122 LITTLE KED-BILLED HAWK. 
of the Cape colony. He once found its nest, wliicb 
was built in the fork of a high tree ; it contained 
three young birds ready for flight ; there was also 
an addled egg much soiled, which, upon being 
washed, was found to be entirely white. The range 
of this species is therefore established between 
Southern and "Western Africa; and it is the only 
one of those Falcons, found by Le Vaillant in the 
former districts, which we have yet received from 
the western coast. 
In its general structure it perfectly resembles the 
goshawk last described, but the bill is considerably 
larger; and although the tarsi of both are of the 
same length, the middle toe of this, particularly the 
first joint, is much longer, and therefore more lik e 
that of the common sparrow-hawk. The wings are 
very short, reaching only, as Le Vaillant well ob- 
serves, as far as the under tail-covers ; the second 
and sixth quills are of equal length ; and the third, 
fourth, and fifth, as in the last species, are the 
longest and are nearly equal. In size, our speci- 
men is certainly smaller than the common sparrow'- 
hawk, although Le Vaillant observes that they are 
of the same size. 
The general colour of the upper plumage is a 
uniform greyish-browm, except a broad white har at 
the base of the tail, and which crosses the last 
range of the covers ; this is bordered towards the 
rump hy a black bar, which then mingles with 
the brown of the rump. The under parts, from the 
chin to a little beyond the breast, are of a light and 
