LINNEAN GENUS FALCO. 



393 



is a whitish line. The throat, breast, and belly, F-pau™- 

 are white, with numerous transverse lines of a 

 blackish colour. These markings commence from 

 the base of the bill, and extend to the extremity 

 of the feathers on the thighs. The tail is long 

 and consists of alternate bars of black and black- 

 ish-brown, but so dark as not to be easily distin- 

 guished without near inspection. The legs are 

 yellow, and the claws black. The wings do not 

 reach nearly to the end of the tail. 



The foregoing description, will be perceived to 

 differ from that usually given of the Goshawk, 

 which is said to be of a deep brown on the upper 

 parts of the plumage, with the tail ash-coloured, 

 barred with dusky. This is owing to the resem- 

 blance which the two sexes bear to each other 

 when immature, and to the length of time which 

 the male requires to attain his perfect plumage. 



The first change which is observable, is in the 

 markings of the under plumage, which, from being 

 longitudinal, become transverse. The dark blue 

 shades of the upper part of the plumage, are not 

 acquired for several years ; and the observations 

 of naturalists on this species, seem to have been 

 made before the male had undergone his second 

 change. Except in as far as regards size, the 

 male Goshawk, on a general view, bears a con- 

 siderable resemblance to the Sparrow Hawk, 

 (Falco nisus,) 



