GOSHAWK Z7l 



with a white line above the eye, and five dark bands across the tail, 

 and the under surface white with black barrings and dark shafts to the 

 feathers of the throat and breast, which communicate to those areas a 

 finely streaked appearance. In young birds the brown feathers of the 

 upper-parts are more or less distinctly tipped with whitish, the crown 

 of the head is rufous streaked with dark brown, and the breast 

 longitudinally streaked, instead of transversely barred, with black on a 

 buff-tinged white ground. 



In former days the breeding-range of the goshawk included the 

 British Isles ; but its western limit is now marked by Lapland and 

 other parts of Scandinavia, whence it stretches uninterruptedly across 

 northern and Central Asia, inclusive of the higher ranges of the 

 Himalaya, to the eastern side of China and Japan. Northwards the 

 limits of the breeding-area extend to about latitude 60°, while south- 

 wards they include Gibraltar. Young birds visit northern Africa, 

 inclusive of Egypt, Syria, and the Caspian districts in winter, but in 

 Europe adult birds seem for the most part content to spend the whole 

 year not far away from their breeding-resorts. Farther east it has 

 been stated to be a more decidedly migratory bird ; but it is note- 

 worthy that there is no winter-migration from Central Asia and the 

 Himalaya to the plains of peninsular India. 



Evidence of the former breeding of the goshawk in Great Britain 

 is afforded by an egg in the collection of the British Museum from 

 Balmacara, Ross-shire, which appears to be one of two taken in April 

 1 87 I. Although this seems to be the only instance where British eggs 

 are forthcoming, there is some evidence to show that a pair of these birds 

 nested in Yorkshire in 1893. There is also more or less definite evidence 

 to prove that the species formerly nested in several Scotch forests, at a 

 time when pine-woods were abundant ; and there is a definite statement 

 as to a pair of goshawks having occupied a deserted raven's nest in 

 Roxburghshire. Further, there are reports as to the former occurrence 

 of the species in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire {circa 1752). 

 It must, however, be borne in mind that some of these reports may 

 refer to the peregrine falcon. Old records likewise point to the 

 occurrence of goshawks in Ireland, where they appear to have bred ; 

 but in modern times only three instances of the occurrence of the 

 species in that island are noted, none of which are supported by the 

 evidence of actual specimens. Nowadays most of the goshawks which 

 visit Great Britain are immature birds ; and the reported breeding of 

 the species in Gloucestershire in 1904 appears to be incorrect. 



Although goshawks are employed to a considerable extent in 



