114 



British Birds. 



THE 

 GOS HAWK. 



(Astur pnltimbiiriiis.) 



The Gos Hawk. 



The Gos Hawks and 

 Sparrow Hawks differ from 

 the Harriers in having the 

 hinder portion of the tarsus 

 transverselj- scaled and not reticulated, and in 

 lacking the facial ruff. The Gos Hawks are 

 heavily built and powerful birds, with strong 

 feet and talons and a very stout bill, whereas 

 the Sparrow-Hawks are of a much more slender 

 and supple build. In both groups the wings 

 are very short and rounded, as compared with 

 the long and pointed wings of a Falcon, and 

 they capture much of their prey in direct pursuit 

 through bushes and undergrowth, as well as 

 by pouncing down or snatching unsuspecting 

 quarry. 

 The Gos Hawk is believed to have bred in Scotland in former times, but is now 

 only known as a visitor to Great Britain. Its range extends throughout Europe 

 and Northern Asia to Japan. It feeds on hares or rabbits, which it captures with 

 the utmost dexterit}' and swiftness, as well as on all kinds of game-birds, and 

 it is often trained by Falconers for the pursuit of these. The swiftness with which 

 it can follow the doublings of a rabbit in the open give the latter but little chance of 

 escape. The nest is a large structure of sticks placed on some tall tree, and is 

 added to year by year. Moss and roots form a scanty lining, but there is no 

 attempt to line the interior of the nest with green leaves, as is done by some of the 

 Accipities. The eggs are four or five in number, bluish white, with scarcely ever any 

 brown markings, and they measure 

 about two-and-a-quarter to two-and- 

 a-half inches in length. 



This species 

 has been noticed 

 in Scotland, in 

 Perthshire, and 

 twice in Ireland. It very much re- 

 sembles the European Gos Hawk, but 

 has a black head, and is freckled, not 

 barred, witli black below. It is an 

 inhabitant of North America, and 

 resembles A. paluiiibarius in size, "■'■'•'7'^ 



the male being considerabl}- smaller 

 than the female. Its habits and The American Gos Hawk. 



THE AMERICAN 

 GOS HAWK. 



{Aslur atricapillus.) 



