600 



centibus et bruimeo magis conspicue transfasciatis : subcaudalibus longissimis albis : subalaribus 

 albidis brunneo transversim notatis : cera et pedibus flavis, unguibus nigris : rostro corneo, mandibula, 

 ad basin flavicante : iride aurantiaca. 



d sen. schistaceo-cinerascens, subtus ubique rufescens, fasciis brunneis indistinctioribus transnotatus : hypo- 

 chondriis et abdomine imo latius albo transfasciatis : iride ferruginea. 



6 juv. supra brunneus, pileo saturatiore, nucha, rufescente, hujus plumarum basibus conspicue albis : notaei 

 plumis omnibus distincte rufo marginatis : supercibo, loris genisque rufescenti-albis : primariis brunneis, 

 scapis rufescenti-brunneis, pennis nigricante transfaciatis, secundariis ad basin rufo, versus apicem albido 

 marginatis : ala, subtus rufescente, fasciis angustis brunneis transnotata, : cauda fusco-brunnea, fasciis 

 quinque nigricantibus transnotata : subtus rufescenti-albus, gula, nigricante striolata, : pectoris plumis 

 maculis cordiformibus rufescentibus notatis, et brunneo transfasciatis : abdominis plumis albidioribus, 

 lineis brunneis ante apicem fulvidum transfasciatis : subcaudalibus crissalibus albis, brunneo medialiter 

 anguste linearis, longioribus purius albis vix rufescente tinctis : cruribus rufescentibus, brunneo trans- 

 lineatis : subalaribus fulvescenti-albis, brunneo transversim variis : iride flava. 



2 ad. mari simibs, sed conspicue major : supra cinerascens, pileo saturatiore, nucba paullo albicante : loris 

 et supercibo postoculari, distinctiore, albidis : genis rufescenti-albis, late brunneo striatis : gula, alba, 

 sparsim brunneo longitudinaliter striata : subtus albescens, brunneo ubique transfasciata, abdomine 

 imo sparsius, et subcaudalibus pure albis. 



5 sen. supra cinerea : subtus albescens, ubique cinereo transfasciata, bypochondriis et cruribus distincte 

 rufescentibus : gutture cinereo striolato. 



juv. mari juveni similis, sed major : supra saturate brunnea, nucha, rufescente, plumis omnibus rufo mar- 

 ginatis : subtus rufescenti-alba, brunneo transfasciata, pectore maculis rufescentibus cordiformibus notato, 

 gutture brunneo distincte longitudinabter striate. 



Young Birds. 



Nestling. Covered with white down, slightly tinged with buff on the scapular region and centre of the 

 belly ; on the sides of the face the down is thinner ; the flanks, sides of the neck, and region round the 

 eye are almost bare. 



Obs. The striking difference in size which exists between the two sexes of the Sparrow-Hawk is observable in 

 the young birds before they leave the nest, and is especially noticeable in the stouter and longer leg of 

 the female. Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., has lent us several specimens in various stages of downy dress, from 

 which we are able to note the following facts : — The first feathers which protrude from the white down 

 are the quills and tail-feathers. The primaries, as they shoot from their born-blue envelope, are sepia- 

 brown, with an almost imperceptible edging of pale rusty, and the upper wing-coverts are coloured in 

 like manner ; the secondaries, however, as well as the tail-feathers, have a conspicuous rusty edging, even 

 at this early age. On separating the down the tiny blood-feathers may be seen sprouting on the back, 

 of a sepia-brown colour, with a rust-coloured tip to each plume ; the sides of the face are almost bare, 

 with only a sprinkbng of tiny white down. As the bird grows older, the down is shed, and the feathers 

 everywhere appear. The general colour of the plumes is dark sepia-brown with rufous edgings to the 

 feathers, these being most conspicuous on the scapulars and wing-coverts ; the quills are dark brown 

 with rufous shafts, the primaries with httle or no indication of a paler edging, the secondaries tipped 

 with rufous. A rufous blush pervades the under surface of the wing, all the feathers as far as they are 

 developed exhibiting two sepia-brown bars, and a broad band of the same colour at the extremity of the 

 feather ; between these bars is a large interspace of silvery white, shaded with rufous. The breast- 



