THE GOSHAWK. 



25 



stealthy manner. They nestle in trees or on rocks, and their nest is a little 

 like that of the crow. 



There are but two species in England. One is the goshs-wk, the bird in 

 the picture, that is so rare it is hardly ever met with ; and the other is the 

 bold, hardy, and rather insolent sparrow-hawk, which is as common as his 

 relation the goshawk is rare. 



The goshawk may be known from his cousins the falcons by the curve 

 of the upper part of his bill, which is peculiar to the hawk fam:l}'. He is not 



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so strong as they are, though he is quite as large ; but his way of flying at his 

 prey is different. He does not make a swoop, but glides along in a line after 

 it — a mode of proceeding which, in the language of falconry, is called " raking." 

 The goshawk used to be in great favour in those hawking days, and was 

 let fly at pheasants and hares and partridges. He used to make a great 

 dash, and even go through a wood or thicket after the prey. But if he did 

 not soon catch it, he seemed to grow tired, and give up the pursuit. He 

 would then perch on some bough of a tree, and wait patiently till a new 

 victim appeared, or until the old one came again within his range. If the 

 game lay hidden close by, the goshawk, perched on his bough, would wait 



