36 NATURAL HISTORY ^Birds. 



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Species 5. — The Goshawk. 



Sib Scot. 15. Accipiter Palumbarius, the Goshawk, Mas Decitur, the Tercel, 

 Wil. Om. 85. Rail Si/n. Av. 18. Falco Palumbarius, Lm. Sys. 130. Brit. 

 Zool. I. p. 140. tab. 5. 



This species is pretty frequent in Orkney, and I suppose 

 is one of the hawks the king's falconer was wont to fetch 

 from our rocks. To this day there is a rent-charge exacted 

 from many of the inhabitants for the maintenance of these 

 hawks, called hawk-hens, and which is still yearly uplifted. 

 Of old it consisted of any carrion, such as a dog, horse, or 

 other garbage, for which they were charged at a stated 

 price if not delivered. Mr Wallace tells us, the kite, or glead, 

 was to be found in Orkney in plenty ; however, I never saw 

 nor heard of them, and rather believe those he had seen were 

 stragglers from other countries, for the manner of their flight 

 renders them very conspicuous even at a great distance, so 

 that one can scarce be mistaken in them. But I rather think 

 this species is not to be found in Orkney, as there is no pro- 

 per shelter for them, they being fonder of gloomy woods than 

 sea-beat rocks, and delighting more in an extensive country 

 than narrow isles ; at least these are the observations I made 

 on them while in Scotland, where I seldom observed them 

 very near the sea. 



