322 GOS-HAWK. 



Scotland the Peregrine Falcon is called the ' (los-Hawk.' It is 

 unknown in Sutherland, and nearly so in Caithness and the Shet- 

 lands. In Ireland only three occurrences are authenticated. 



The Gos-Hawk is common in the forest-regions of Scandinavia, 

 and in those of Russia down to the Black and Caspian Seas ; it is 

 also abundant in the wooded districts of Germany and Central 

 Europe generally, nor is it rare in many parts of France. In Italy 

 and the Spanish Peninsula it is rather scarce and local, though it 

 breeds as far south as Andalucia, and even in Alorocco ; while in 

 winter it visits Egypt and Palestine. Eastward it ranges across Asia 

 to China and Japan. The young are the chief migrants southwards 

 from the northern districts ; the adults only do so in very severe 

 weather, when food becomes scarce. 



Though the old nest of some other species is occasionally repaired, 

 the bird frequently builds its own, whicli is a large structure of 

 sticks, placed in a tree — generally on the outskirts of a forest or 

 near a clearing. The eggs, laid in April or early in May, are 

 usually 4 in number, and are pale bluish-grey, but when incubated 

 they become dirty greenish-yellow, and occasionally show a few 

 rusty or olive markings : average measurements 2 '3 by i'8 in. The 

 same nest is used year after year. The Gos-Hawk is a bold and 

 rapacious species, preying upon hares and smaller mammals, game- 

 birds and poultry ; the shortness of .its wings and the steering power 

 given by its comparatively long tail enabling it to follow with 

 marvellous rapidity every turn of its quarry, which it takes in a 

 style called by falconers trussing. Its hearing is very acute. 



The adult has a narrow white line above the eye and ear-toverts ; 

 upper parts ashy-brown ; tail with four broad darker bars ; under 

 parts vvhite, thickly barred with ashy-brown; cere, iris, and legs 

 yellow. Male : length 20 in., wing 12 in. ; female : length 23 in., 

 wing 14 in. The young bird has the upper parts brown, and five 

 dark bands on the tail ; under parts warm buff, with numerous 

 drop-shaped markings of dark brown ; iris pearl-white. 



A specimen of the American Cijs-Hawk, Astitr atricapillus, said — 

 on somewhat slight evidence — to have been obtained in Perthshire 

 in 1869, is in the Edinburgh Museum; and another, shot in Tip- 

 perary in 1870, is in the Dublin Museum, vvheie I have examined it. 

 This distinct though nearly allied species, distinguishable by its 

 closely freckled— not barred — under parts, is not likely to be a 

 genuine visitor to the British Islands. 



