THE SPARROW-HAWK. 165 



such as oak, placed close to main stem. Usually built upon top 

 of old nest of some other species, but superstructure always work 

 of the hawk, bulky, built of twigs of larch and other trees, very 

 flat at top, with usually bits of bark in lining. Eggs. — Usually 

 4 to 6, occasionally 7, while 8 have been recorded a few times. 

 Colour bluish-white, with blotches of dark chocolate-brown, 

 sometimes forming zone or cap, and not infrequently at small end. 

 Some eggs almost unmarked ; others have light red-brown cloudings 

 or spots. Average size of 100 British eggs, 39.7x31.7. Max.: 

 46.7x35 and 45.5x36. Min.: 35x28.4 mm. Breeding-season.— 

 Full clutches usually by end of first or second week in May. Eggs 

 laid at intervals of 48 hours, but sometimes longer. Incubation. — 

 By female alone, generally after larger half of clutch has been laid. 

 Period usually 34-35 days, (For fuller details see J. H. Owen, 

 Brit. B., xii, pp. 61 and 74). Single brooded. Fledging-period. — ■ 

 Four weeks. 



Food. — -Very varied, but chiefly small and medium-sized birds 

 taken on wing. Starling, Finches (Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, 

 Sparrow, Chaffinch, Yellow Bunting, etc.), Tits, Meadow-Pipit, 

 Sky-Larks Willow- War bier, various Warblers, Mistle- and Song- 

 Thrush, Blackbird, Hedge-Sparrow, Robin, Redstart, Kingfisher, 

 Cuckoo, Great and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, Teal, Wood- 

 Pigeon, Turtle-Do ve, Moorhen, Lapwing (taken from nest), 

 Partridge, young Pheasant, once Grey Hen ! Also seen to kill 

 young Little Tern and chasing Green Woodpecker. Mice and 

 voles also taken and it is said, young rabbits ; frogs, and occasion- 

 ally insects, chiefly coleoptera and orthoptera (grasshoppers). 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Resident. Generally distributed 

 where there are woodlands. Is rare Orkneys and extreme north 

 and north-west Scotland. Rare vagrant Outer Hebrides, occurs 

 rarely on passage Fair Isle and Shetlands. Frequently observed 

 as autumn migrant on east coast Great Britain. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Europe generally, east apparently to 

 west Siberia, but replaced by very closely-allied subspecies in 

 Madeira and Canary Islands, north-west Africa, Corsica and Sar- 

 dinia, and in various parts of Asia. 



Genus MILVUS Lacepede. 



Milvus Lacepede, Tabl. method. Ois., p. 4 (1799 — Type by tautonymy : 

 Falco milvus.) 



Differs from other British genera of Accipitres by long tail 

 being more or less deeply forked. Wings long. Upper bill with 

 very flat festoon or rounded " tooth." Nostrils free, longitudinal 

 and obliquely placed. Tarsus short, not or barely longer than 

 middle toe, about half covered with feathers. 3rd and 4th primaries 

 longest, 5th not much shorter. Old World. Eggs spotted. 



