Our Birds of Prey. 141 
as long as the upper bone (the tibia) which is feathered 
in all birds — we meet with seven species referable to the 
true sparrow-hawks, the harrier-hawks, and the harriers. 
Of the true sparrow-hawks there are two species, which 
will be recognised by the characters of their bills and feet. 
The bills are small and weak, and are marked by what 
may be called a double festoon, i.e., that instead of 
there being one more or less continuous curve from the 
angle of the jaw to the tip of the beak, this is broken by 
a projection just under the nostril, so that two small 
curves are made, like the arch of the wings of a bird in 
flight. The feet are thin and weak, and the toes are 
particularly thin — the median toe being longer than the 
outer by quite a joint (the claw not included), with their 
claws very small and thin, contrasted with the large and 
long claws on the short inner and hinder toes. The back 
of the bare leg is covered with a row of large plated 
scales, not with small scales forming a reticulated surface. 
In one species, the red-legged sparrow-hawk (Ac- 
cipiter bicolor) , which varies from a length of 14-17 
inches according to sex, the upper surface may be 
blackish-brown with reddish margins, or deep slaty-blue, 
according to age, the head being nearly black, the tail 
less so, and the wings browner. The under surface may 
be light reddish-brown, or pale slate colour, according to 
age ; while the thighs are of a clear chestnut red. Against 
the clear slate of the breast and throat, the dark shafts of 
the feathers show out much like fine bristles lying over the 
feathers, presenting a very characteristic appearance. 
These birds do not seem to occur commonly on the coast, 
specimens having hitherto been obtained chiefly along 
the uninhabited parts of the great rivers, and more 
