Our Birds of Prey. 143 
and covering under tail feathers. The main quills of 
the wings are black, with a large white blotch on each ; 
while the black tail is white at the base, white-tipped, 
and crossed with two narrow bars of white. 
This bird is not commonly found on the coast, but 
occurs along the wooded creeks, where it will be met 
with perching on the sheltered branches in the more 
open places. 
Three species of harrier-hawks are to be obtained in 
the colony. These birds are very much like the true 
sparrow-hawks, but are distinguishable by their much 
stronger habit. Their beaks are stronger and larger, 
their bodies more thickly built, their legs thicker, and 
their toes much thicker and shorter in proportion to 
their size. More than this, the back of the tarsus 
is covered with small reticulated scales, while the face is 
furnished with an indistinct owl-like ruff or disc made 
up of the small feathers of the hind-cheek and ear- 
coverts which stand out against the other parts. 
The commonest of these is the black-barred harrier- 
hawk (Micrastur gilvicollis), which is from about 
13-15 inches long according to the sex. Above it is 
of a pale slaty-brown, the tail tipped with white 
and barred with two, three, or four, distinct nar- 
rowish white bands, according to the age of the bird. 
On the under side, the colour is greyish white or creamy, 
pure on the throat, but barred with regular bands of 
black over the other parts, though scarcely or not at 
all represented on the hinder and middle part of the 
abdomen. In colouring, this species very closely re- 
sembles Accipiter tinus, and would easily be confounded 
with it but for its size and essential characters. 
