306 NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



slate, darkening on the tail; below, the color is pure white, closely and finely barred, 

 crosswise with slate. The chin and throat lack the crossbars, but each feather has a 

 dark shaft-stripe, while running backward from above and behind the eye is a broad 

 white stripe finely pencilled with black. The wings and tail arc dark, the latter with 

 four or five obscure black bands. The female, which is largest, measures about two 

 feet in length, with a spread of about four feet. Like most of the other members of 

 this group, the goshawk is extremely active and daring. Strong of wing and stout of 

 heart, it is both bold and cunning, and its attack once determined on is usually suc- 

 cessful. It is a northern bird, ranging southward in winter, yet doubtless often breed- 

 ing within the limits of the United States. Audubon says of its habits, - 



" The flight of the goshawk is extremely rapid and protracted. He sweeps along 

 the margins of the fields, through the woods, and by the edges of ponds and rivers, 

 with such speed as to enable him to seize his pi*ey by mei-ely deviating a few yards 

 from his course, assisting himself on such occasions by his long tail, which, like a 

 rudder, he throws to the right or left, iipwards or downwards, to check his progress, 

 or enable him suddenly to alter his course. At times he passes like a meteor through 

 the underwood, where he secures squirrels and hares with ease. Should a flock of 

 wild pigeons pass him when on these predatory excursions he immediately gives chase, 

 soon overtakes them, and, forcing his way into the very centre of the flock, scatters 

 them in confusion, when you may see him emerging with a bird in his talons, and 

 diving towards the depth of the forest to feed upon his victim. When traveling, he 

 flies high, with a constant beat of the wings, seldom moving in large circles like other 

 hawks, and when he does this it is only a few times in a hurried manner, after which 

 he continues his journey. . . . 



"It is a restless bird, apparently more vigilant and industrious than many other 

 hawks, and seldom alights unless to devour its prey ; nor can I recollect ever having 

 seen one alighted for many minutes at a time, without having a bird in its talons. 



" When thus engaged with its prey, it stands nearly upright, and in general, when 

 perched, it keeps itself more erect than most species of hawk. It is extremely expert 

 at catching snipes on the wing, and so well do these birds know their insecurity, that, 

 on his approach, they prefer squatting." The goshawk nests in trees, laying three or 

 four bluish-white eggs, rarely faintly blotched and spotted with brown. 



In the higher parts of Ceylon and India, and in many of the East Indian Islands, 

 is found the smaller Astur trivirgatus, with a conspicuous occipital crest ; but the 

 most singular member of the genus is the Australian goshawk, Astur novce-hollandice, 

 sometimes known as the New Holland white-eagle. This is apparently a permanent 

 albino, for the adult plumage is pure white, the cere, gape, and legs yellow, the bill 

 black, and the iris pink. The young bird is mostly white below and brown above, but 

 nearly all the dark feathers are white at base. 



The genus Accipiter includes species of mostly small size and slender form, but 

 otherwise remarkably like the goshawks in structure and habits. In England they are 

 known as sparrow-hawks, from the common species, Accipiter nisus, which is the 

 sparrow-hawk of the country. In the United States we generally use the name 

 sparrow-hawk for a true falcon; the little Falco (Tinnunculus) sparverius, and the 

 two common species of Accipiter are known, the smaller as the sharp-shinned hawk 

 (A. fuscus), from the slender tarsi, and the larger as Cooper's hawk A. cooperi, or 

 sometimes as the chicken-hawk. They are common, active, graceful birds, preying 

 almost entirely on birds and small mammals, which they rarely lie in wait for and 



