FALCO PALUMBARIUS. 91 



rapid evolutions ; unlike the true falcon's, whose long wings and 

 shorter tail enable them to outsoar and swoop down upon their 

 prey — for the goshawk, like the sparrow-hawk, skims low, and 

 once started never gives up the pursuit of its victim until its 

 quarry is hunted down — the feathered type of ambition. In 

 his " Brigs of Ayr," Burns gives a fine picture of its rapacity — 



" Lo ! on either hand the listening bard 

 The clanging sough of whistling wings is heard, 

 Two dusky forms dart through the midnight air, 

 Swift as the gos drives on the wheeling hare." 



The " dusky forms " are supposed to be the spirits of the 

 brigs. William Laidlaw, in his exquisite ballad of "Lucy's 

 Flittin'," also notes the speed of the hawk — 



" When, swift as the hawk in the stormy November, 

 The cauld norlan win' ca's the drift o'er the lea, 

 Though bidin' its blast on the side o' the mountain, 

 I think on the smile o' her bonnie black e'e." 



Shakespeare, too, makes Hamlet say to his father's ghost about 

 his murder — 



" Haste me to know it, that I with wings as swift 

 As meditation, or the thoughts of love, 

 May sweep to my revenge." 



The flight of the goshawk is extremely rapid and protracted. 

 It sweeps along the margin of the fields, through the woods and 

 by the edges of ponds and rivers, with such speed as enables it 

 to seize its prey by merely deviating a few yards, assisting itself 

 by its long tail, which it throws to the right or left, up or down, 

 to check its progress or suddenly alter its course. 



At times it passes like a meteor through the underwood, 

 where it secures squirrels and hares with ease. Should a flock 

 of wild pigeons be seen it immediately gives chase, soon over- 

 takes, and, forcing its way into the centre of the flock, scatters 

 them in confusion, then emerges with one in its talons, and 

 -dives into the depths of the wood to feed on its victim — 



" Outstripping crows that strive to overfly them." 



The goshawk may have been in Shakespeare's mind's eye 

 when he makes the proud Duke of York declare, when hemmed 

 in by his foes before death — 



" My ashes, as the phoenix, may bring forth 

 A bird that will revenge upon you all ; 

 And, in that hope, I throw mine eyes to heaven, 

 Scorning whate'er you can afflict ni3 with ;" 



