5G LEVANT SPARROW-HAWK. 
our own Sparrow-Hawk, but that in length of tarsus and middle toe 
it is constantly smaller; and this constitutes the great difference between 
A. nisus and that series of African and Asiatic species of which the 
subject of the present notice is the largest bird. But the measurements, 
while valuable specific marks, will not alone constitute species. There 
is, however, a marked difference between the Levant Sparrow-Hawk 
and any of those mentioned in the above table. 
In addition then to the measurements, the male adult Levant Sparrow- 
Hawk differs from that of A. nisus. 1. — In the darker upper plumage. 
2. — In the closer barring of the under plumage. 3. — In the under 
wing coverts being lighter rufous, and less barred, and by the deep 
black unicolorous primaries beneath, those of A. nisus being barred to 
the end. 4. — By the two first under tail feathers being unicolorous 
grey, while those of nisus are strongly barred. 5. — By the primaries 
being black brown and unicolorous above, while those of nisus are 
lighter, and distinctly barred. 6. — The cheeks of the Levant Sparrow- 
Hawk are slight grey, while those of nisus are rufous. 
From the female of 31. brevipes that of A. nisus differs principally 
in the general character of the under plumage, which is rufous brown 
and white, not black and white; the bars on the chest and body are 
broader, and on the thighs they become almost as rufous as the bars 
on the male. 
From the young of 31. brevipes those of A. nisus differ most markedly 
in the deep light brown borders of the primaries and upper tail feathers, 
which are absent in A. nisus, while in the under plumage the large 
oblong longitudinal brown spots, and the russet bars on the thighs 
and under tail coverts at once proclaim their distinctive characters. 
It is hardly necessary to say anything about the distinction of this 
bird from 31. badius, sphenurus , or polyzonoides, as it is altogether 
larger and different; and I shall point out some of the distinctions 
between these birds when treating of 31. badius. 
Heuglin refers this bird to the well-known F. badius of India; and 
I believe Dr. Sclater at one time held the same opinion. Heuglin 
remarks: "I hold Nisus brevipes, Severzow, from Southern Russia and 
Asia Minor, if even not specifically distinct, yet as a large northern 
con-species of N. badius; the colouring and its distribution are exactly 
the same. A male from Smyrna measured, from carpus to tip of wing 
seven inches seven lines; tail six inches one line; tarsus one inch nine 
lines." Whatever may be the relationship between Falco — or perhaps 
more properly speaking 3£icro-nisus brevipes and badius — I am confident 
that the Falco Gurneyi of my book is not the latter, and I have given 
my reasons at length. I wrote to Von Heuglin expressing this, and 
