106 | GOSHAWK. 
from each other. A large stake was driven into the ground 
and left standing, about seven feet in height; bushes and boughs 
were then laid round this post and kept loosely open, and 
hollow at the bottom, to the extent of ten or twelve yards 
round the post, for the Partridges to run into when pursued 
by the Goshawk, which they usually did after being disturbed 
two or three times. The Goshawk finding itself disappointed, 
and unable to follow them with its long wings amongst the 
bushes and briers, after flying round them for some turns, was 
sure to perch upon the top of the post, as the only resting- 
place at hand, and was as sure to be taken by a trap set there 
for the purpose.’ 
‘His voice in times of danger,’ says Meyer, ‘is a loud single 
note, many times repeated, and bears a great resemblance to 
that of the Sparrow-Hawk; besides this cry, he utters another 
much resembling the note of the Peregrine-Falcon, which is 
chiefly used when engaged in a contest with some other bird 
of prey. 
Its nest is said to be built in tall fir or other trees, near 
the trunk, and to be large in size, flat in shape, and composed 
of sticks, grass, and moss, loosely put together. The bird is 
believed to be in the habit frequently of occupyimg it for 
several years in succession, making the necessary repairs from 
time to time. Mr. Hewitson says that it ‘is placed in some 
high tree in the interior of the woodland, except in those 
parts which are cleared, and free from timber.’ During the 
time that the female is sitting she is fed by the male. 
The eggs are from two to five in number, greenish or bluish 
white, often with and sometimes without, or nearly without 
streaks and spots of brown, or reddish, or yellowish brown. 
They are hatched about the middle of May, after an incubation 
of about three weeks. 
The Goshawk is very strong and robust in make. Male; 
length, from one foot six, to one foot nine inches; bill, light 
blue at the base, bluish black towards the end, and bristled 
on the sides; cere, yellow; iris, bright yellow in the fully adult 
bird; over the eye is a broad white line spotted with black; 
head, flat, dark brownish black on the crown; neck, as the 
back, behind, the base of the feathers white, dull white in 
front; nape, white at the under end of the feathers, which 
are tipped with brownish black. Chin and throat, white, 
streaked with dusky; breast, greyish white, transversely 
waved with small bars of greyish black; each feather has 
