86 FALCONID^E. 



there it seems to be scarce. In Algeria it is only of acci- 

 dental appearance. In Portugal it is pretty common and the 

 same is the case with it in parts of Spain. In many districts 

 of France it breeds annually, but its numbers also receive an 

 addition in autumn. In Italy it is rare, and still more so in 

 Sicily, though, according to Malherbe, it breeds there. In 

 Sardinia it is an autumnal visitant. It occurs in the Cyclades 

 in winter, but on the mainland of Greece and in Turkey it is 

 resident and not rare. Within the limits thus traced it is a 

 very well-known species, preying on almost every kind of 

 beast or bird that it can catch — Hares, Rabbits, Squirrels, 

 Wild Ducks, Grouse, Pigeons and domestic poultry. 



The late Mr. Hoy, who frequently visited Germany supplied 

 Mr. Hewitson with the information that the Gos-Hawk "builds 

 its own nest, and, if undisturbed in its possession, will fre- 

 quently occupy it for several years, making the necessary re- 

 pairs. It is placed in some high tree on the outskirts of the 

 forest, and is rarely found in the interior of the woodland, ex- 

 cept in those parts which are cleared and free from timber." 

 A nest in Norwegian Lapland, to which Wolley climbed, was 

 at a good height in a large Scotch-fir, and so thick that when 

 he stood on the branch on which its lower part rested, the top 

 was some inches above his head : its building had probably been 

 the work of years. The eggs of the Gos-Hawk are three or 

 four in number, white and most commonly unspotted, but 

 not unfrequently varied by a few vermiform markings of a 

 pale olive tint, and occasionally by a few specks of dark red- 

 dish-brown. They measure from 2*48 to 2*12 by 1-88 to 

 1"75 in. A bird for many years in Mr. Gurney's possession, 

 several times laid eggs, wdiich she shewed an inclination to 

 brood. 



A full-grown female measures from twenty-two to twenty- 

 four inches in length ; — the males about nineteen inches ; 

 but when adult, the plumage is nearly similar. The beak is 

 bluish horn-colour ; the cere yellow, and irides orange : the 

 top of the head, the whole of the back, upper surface of the 

 wdngs and tail, dark greyish-brown, — in females the colour 

 inclines to clove-brown ; the upper surface of the tail barred 



