160 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



shorter than 10th primary, inner ones about as long as 8th, tips 

 rounded. Tail rounded laterally, 12 feathers, tips rounded. 

 About half tarsus feathered on front. Toes rather long, claws 

 long, strong, compressed, very sharp. Bill short, strong, upper 

 sharply curved, compressed and pointed, with slight festoon on 

 cutting edge, lower broad, short and flattish with rounded tip. 

 Nostrils oval, thinly covered by bristle-like loral feathers. 



Soft parts. — -Bill bluish-black, base paler blue ; cere greenish- 

 yellow ; legs and feet yellow ; iris reddish-orange. 



Characters and allied forms. — For differences oiA.g. atricapillus 

 see under that form. A. g. arrigonii (Sardinia, Corsica) is darker 

 (more slate-black) on upper-parts and bars on under-parts are 

 closer and darker ; A. g. schvedowi (north and central Asia) has 

 upper-parts more slate-grey and less brown and barring of under- 

 parts usually paler and narrower. Distinguished from other 

 British hawks by its much rounded wing and large size. 



Field-characters. — Resembles a Sparrow-Hawk of huge dimen- 

 sions, having similarly long tail and comparatively short wings. 

 Inhabits forests. Note as a rule a short " gyak-gyak-gyak "or a 

 screaming " kirk -kirk-kirk." (E.H.) 



Breeding-habits. — A forest-haunting species. Nest. — Large and 

 well built of sticks and twigs, sometimes on foundation of older 

 nest, but always freely added to year by year. Bound edge of cup 

 fresh twigs are placed. Eggs. — Usually 4, or frequently 3, while 

 sets of 5 are rare and 2 are at times a full set. Colour usually 

 bluish-white, rarely dead white, without markings or only a few 

 faint rusty spots. Average of 100 eggs, 58x45.2. Max. : 64.5 X 

 45 and 62x51. Min. : 51x43 and 56x41.5. Breeding-season. — 

 About mid-April in central Europe and up to end of May in north. 

 Incubation. — So far as is known by female alone ; exact period not 

 ascertained. Single brooded. 



Food.— Able to take mammals up to size of hare or rabbit with 

 ease (especially squirrels) ; also birds such as Partridge and Pigeon, 

 and occasionally Pheasant, Blackgame, Hazel Grouse, Rooks, Crows, 

 Magpies, as well as domestic fowls, well-grown goslings and ducks, 

 both tame and wild. In default of larger prey will also feed on 

 smaller mammals and birds. 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Rare vagrant. Most recorded ex- 

 amples immature from east coasts England and Scotland ; elsewhere 

 and especially in west, extremely rare. One O. Hebrides winter 

 1887-8, but authenticity of three recorded in Ireland doubtful (R. J. 

 Ussher, List of Irish Birds, p. 28). Nest, probably of wild bird, with 

 four eggs found and female shot near Grosmont (Yorks.) May, 1893 

 (cf. Brit. B., I, p. 319) ; pair attempted to nest (female shot) 1864, 

 Normanby Park (Lines.) (J Cordeaux, List B. B., p. 18) ; also 

 perhaps bred formerly in Spey valley and elsewhere. 



