GOSHAWK. 



45 



L. M. Turner both corroborate its destiuctiveuess among tliese birds. 

 In some parts of the country the Goshawk hunts the ruffed grouse so 

 persistently that it is known by the name of 'Partridge Hawk,' and 

 this bird probably has no worse enemy except man. As Audubon was 

 passing down the Ohio he observed one of these Hawks dive into a flock 

 of grackles which was crossing the river, and kill four or five of them. 

 After gi^ang each victim a fatal squeeze the Hawk allowed it to fall to 

 the water and at the close of the chase returned and picked up all from 

 the surface. 



Its rapid flight and the rapidity with which it makes a sudden turn 

 eiialjle it to capture squirrels without trouble, rabbits and mice being 

 also taken. 



A very curious performance which was enacted by this bird, with a 

 night heron as a second party, was witnessed by Mr. H. W. Henshaw, 

 and is as follows: " One that I shot on the Williamson's Eiver was in 

 hot chase of a kingfisher, which he doubtless would have seized in an- 

 other moment. Another, on the same river, was noticed chasing a night 

 heron. The attack was persistently kept up, but evidently with no in- 

 tention on the part of the hawk of making the heron his prey. Forcing 

 the heavy- winged heron into the open this hawk would close in and ap- 

 parently give the ungainly bird a buffet with his wing, which each time 

 produced a loud and discontented squawk. It occurred to me, as a 

 possible solution of the motive of the hawk, that he intended to force 

 his victim to throw up any fish it might have secured, and so furnish 

 him an easy dinner." (Eeport of the Chief of Engineo's, U, S. A., 1879, 

 p. 2292.) 



Little can be said in favor of this Hawk, as the destruction of a few 

 injurious rodents is a very meager offset for the great number of game 

 birds and the poultry it destroys. 



The following species of mammals and birds were positively identi- 

 fied among the stomach contents: 



MAJIMALS. 



Lepus sylvaticus. 

 Sciitrus richardsoiii. 

 Sciiirus h udsonicits. 

 Sdurus caroUnensis hucotis. 



BIRDS. 



Boiiasa umhellvs. 

 CoJinns virginianus. 

 Zenaiduta macron ra. 



The nest is a bulky structure, and, although considerably larger, re- 

 sembles quite closely in appearance that of the crow, except that it 

 lacks the compact and nicely arranged lining common to the nest of 

 the latter species. Externally it is composed of tolerably large sticks 

 looselj^ placed together, which surround a more compact mass of smaller 

 twigs containing the cavity of the nest. The lining is usually nothing 

 more than a small quantity of soft inner bark, weed stalks, or leaves. 

 The nest is situated in a large tree, generally an evergreen, well up 

 among the higher branches, and in the thickest part of the forest. 



