ASTUR ATRACAPILLUS — THE GOSHAWK, 229 



tarsi rather long, covered in front with wideish transverse 

 scales; toes long; claws long and sharp. 



1. AsTUR Atracapillus, Wilso?i. — The Goshawk. 



Wilson's Am, Orn. VI., pi. 52, fig. 3; Audubon's B, of Am., 

 Oct. ed., L, pi. 23; Fauna Boreali Americana, Birds, pi. 26. 



This Hawk is considered by many authors as identical 

 with the Goshawk of Europe — A. palumharius — but Cassin 

 considers that they are quite distinct, Audubon was of a 

 different opinion, while Temminck and Bonaparte agree 

 with Cassin, 



When Prof, Kirtland, in 1838, wrote his Report on Birds 

 for the Ohio Geological Survey, he added this bird to our 

 fauna, on the authority of Audubon, who stated that they 

 were numerous in Kentucky during the winter; also in 

 Indiana and Pennsylvania, and at Niagara. Of course they 

 must necessarily occur in Ohio. They breed North of the 

 Lakes and pass southward in the fall, returning again in the 

 spring. They are very rapid and powerful fliers, pursuing 

 the flocks of wild pigeons and capturing the birds with 

 ease, « 



The Goshawk is large and powerful, and was used for 

 capturing game in Europe when falconry was a noble sport. 

 Our American species flies at and kills rabbits, squirrels 

 and all kinds of water fowl under the size of a goose. They 

 carry off chickens and ducks from the farm yard and are 

 looked upon, and with justice, as vermin of the very worst 

 kind. 



In size this Hawk is large, but rather slender in form ; 

 wings short, but the tail large, which it uses greatly in 

 changing its course when flying. In the adult the upper 

 part of the head, back of the neck and a strii3e behind the 

 eye is black mixed with ash color. The rest of the upper 

 parts cinereous. A stripe of white above the eye, and a 

 slight collar on the back of the neck of the same color. 



