240 



HAWKS. 



bar of that colour on the wing ; the greatest coverts of the secondary 

 quills are cinereous grey on their outer webs; the tail is black; the 

 inner webs half white from the points, except the two middle feathers ; 

 the coverts of the tail are very long, and reach nearly to the end ; the 

 legs are pale brown. 



We are informed that the female wants the black spot on the chin. It 

 is probable, however, such may be a variety, as we have examined a great 

 many of both sexes, all of which had more or less black on that part ; 

 but the females in general have less of the bay-colour on the head. 

 However, this is not to be depended on, as they vary considerably in 

 that part from age. 



Dr. Latham says this species is subject to great variety of plumage ; 

 that the top of the head in some is whitish, surrounded with rufous, in 

 others wholly black ; that the band in the wings in some is almost 

 white, in others grey, and again wholly wanting ; and that specimens 

 have been seen wholly black. 



These birds usually visit England in the autumn, and continue with 

 us till the month of April. They appear in small flocks, seldom more 

 than four or five, but are in no parts common. We once saw as many 

 as a dozen together, feeding on the hawthorn berries in Badmington 

 park in Gloucestershire. The facility with which they break the hard 

 stones of that fruit to get at the kernel is astonishing. It is done ap- 

 parently with as much ease as other small birds break hempseed. 



No instance has been recorded of its breeding with us ; but Dr. 

 Latham assures us he had one sent to him in the summer months. 

 What the song of this bird may be in the season of love, authors are 

 silent about ; but we have heard it sing pleasantly, in low plaintive 

 notes, even in winter, when the weather has been unusually warm. 

 The nest is very beautifully constructed of lichens, laverwort, and vege- 

 table fibres, lined with feathers and other soft materials, placed in the 

 upper branches of a tree. It is more plentiful in France ; appears about 

 Burgundy in April, where it breeds. 



The eggs are from three to five in number, of a bluish green, spotted 

 with olive-brown, with a few irregular black markings. It is common 

 in Italy, Germany, Sweden, and part of Russia ; and Sonnini informs 

 us that he saw them in Egypt during the winter, in company with the 

 thrush and blackbird. 



HAWKS (Accipitrina, Vigors.) — *A group of birds of prey, be- 

 longing to the falcon family, (Falconidce, Leach,) and characterised 

 by the wings being short, and when closed, scarcely reaching to the end 

 of the tail ; the first quill feather very short, the third nearly equal to 



