104 GOSHAWK. 
in Devonshire. One was caught near Egham, in Surrey, early 
in the year 1846, in the following curious manner:—It was 
perched upon a gate-post, so intently engaged in watching a 
flock of starlings, that it did not perceive the approach of a 
man who came behind it, and caught it by its legs. 
In the Orkney Islands it is not very unfrequently seen, accor- 
ding to Mr. Low, in his ‘Fauna Oreadensis,’ and also Mr. Forbes: 
it most probably occurs in the Hebrides also, if the fact be 
so, but Mr. Yarrell doubts whether the Peregrine may not 
have been mistaken for it. In Ireland, Mr. Thompson, of 
Belfast, says that it cannot be authentically determined to have 
occurred. In Scotland it seems to be indigenous, particularly 
in the central parts, in the Grampians of Aberdeenshire; on 
the Rivers Spey and Dee, where it has been said by Pennant 
to breed, and in the forest of Rothiemurcus, where it is known 
to do so. One was killed near Dalkeith. 
Mountains as well as level districts are frequented by the 
Goshawk, but in either case it seems to prefer a variety of 
woodland and open country, and not to be partial either to 
the dense monotony of a forest, or the dangerous exposure 
of an open unsheltered plain. Mudie says that it also dwells 
in the rocky cliffs of the sea coast, but he gives no authorities 
for, or instances of, this being the case. 
In general habits this species is considered to resemble the 
Sparrow-Hawk. At night it roosts in coppice wood in preference 
to lofty trees, and the lower parts of such instead of the top, 
rarely on rocks in the more open part of the country. ‘When 
at rest,’ says Meyer, ‘he sits in a slouching attitude, with his . 
back raised, and his head rather depressed; but does not drop 
his tail in the manner that some other birds of prey are in the 
habit of domg.’ The male is said to be a much more spirited 
bird than the female, and to have been on this account the 
rather valued in the gay science; though its training was more 
difficult than that of some other species. It was flown at hares, 
rabbits, pheasants, grouse, partridges, pigeons, wild-geese, and 
herons. Great havoc is committed in preserves when the young 
ones are expecting food in the nest. At other seasons of the 
year the more open country is traversed for its own suppl 
by the Goshawk. Like several others, perhaps all of the Hawk 
kind, the one before us is the object of the persevering and 
unaccountable attacks of the Rooks. Who that has lived in 
the country has not seen this, and observed it even from his 
childhood? Yet there are those, whose lot has unfortunately 
