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 w^eather 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. 
FIAWKS (^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 
