146 Mr Audubon's Account of the Habits 



the month of September, in the Great Pine Forest, in Penn- 

 sylvania. 



The flight of the goshawk is extremely rapid, strong, and 

 protracted, although not performed at a remarkable height, 

 excepting on certain rare occasions. It usually glides within a 

 few yards of the ground, or of the tops of the lower bushes, 

 moving with a speed equalled only by that of its relative, my 

 JFalco Stanleii. The motions of its wings, at this time, resemble 

 those of a common pigeon in the act of making its escape from 

 a hawk which pursues it. While thus rapidlj^ following its course, 

 the goshawk suddenly checks its career to fall on its prey and 

 secure it, or to alter its course in pursuit of the object of its 

 search, either to the right or left, or upwards, after the fugitive. 

 Should a flock of wild pigeons (^Columha migratorid) pass, he 

 immediately gives chase, soon overtakes them, and, forcing his 

 way into the verj'^ centre of the flock, excites the utmost terror. 

 The next moment he is seen wending his way with a pigeon in 

 his grasp, and diving towards the depth of the forest to feed 

 upon his victim. 



The same mode is employed bj^ the goshawk in securing wild 

 ducks, on one of which I have several times surprised it feeding. 

 On alighting with a duck, it turns the breast of the dead bird 

 upwards, and plucks off the feathers with as much neatness as 

 the peregrine falcon is wont to do. 



On some rare occasions, the goshawk rises to a considerable 

 height in the air, by means of small circles, which it performs by 

 alternate short sailings and repeated flappings of its wings, and, 

 with a precipitation equal to that of the peregrine, falls upon its 

 prey with unerring aim, strikes it, and flies off with it to some 

 sequestered spot, to devour it in security. 



Some of these birds breed in the more northern parts of the 

 United States, and now and then a nest is found in the State of 

 New York, and even in the mountainous parts of Pennsylvania. 

 I examined one which I found placed in a pine-tree, growing 

 among the precipitous rocks which form the eastern bank of the 

 Niagara River, a few miles below the great cataract. It was 

 formed of sticks, briers, and dry rank weeds. The eggs were 

 laid upon a ^^yv large feathers. They were four in number, of a 

 light greenish-white colour, large, much rounded, and somewhat 

 granulated. The nest so resembled that of the great horned 

 owl (^Strix Virginiana,) that I at first took it for one of that bird. 

 The female was sitting, and was shot by me in the course of the 

 same day. The goshawk, when perched, stands more erect than 

 most species, and frequently shakes its long tail sidewise. 



I subjoin a description of the adult male, the adult female, and 

 of a young male, shot in September. 



Adult Male. — Bill short, nearly as deep as broad at the 

 base, the tip trigonal, very acute, and decurved ; upper mandible, 

 with the dorsal outline, convex from the base, the ridge rounded, 

 the sides convex, the edges acute, overlapping, and slightly 



