84 



THE GOSHAWK. 



opponents, and prefers terrestrial to aerial quarry. Owing to the shape of the wing, and 

 comparative shortness of the feathers, the Goshawk is unable to take long flights, or to 

 urge a lengthened and persevering chase. Moreover, although its courage is of tlie most 

 determined character, it soon loses heart if often baffled by the same quarry, and in such 

 cases will turn sulky and yield the chase. 



When trained, tlie Goshawk is best employed at hares, rabbits, and other furred game, 

 and in this particular sport is unrivalled. Its mode of hunting is singularly like that of 



the clietah, which has already been 

 mentioned in the volume on the 

 Mammalia. Like that animal, it 

 is not nearly so swift as its prey, 

 and therefore is obliged to steal 

 upon them, and seize its victim by 

 a sudden aud unexpected pounce. 

 When it has once grasped its prey 

 it is rarely found to loose its hold, 

 even by the most violent struggles 

 or the most furious attack. The 

 gripe is so enormously powerful, 

 that a Goshawk has often been 

 oliserved to pounce upon a large 

 hare, and to maintain its hold even 

 though the animal sprang high 

 into the air, and then rolled upon 

 the ground in the vain hope of 

 shaking off his feathered anta- 

 gonist. Only the female bird is 

 able to cope with so powerful a 

 creature as a fuU-groAvn hare or 

 rabbit, for the male, although more 

 swift of wing, and therefore better 

 adapted for chasing birds than 

 the female, is comparatively feeble. 

 It never attempts to follow its 

 quarry into cover, as is done by 

 the Peregrine and Merlin, but if 

 its intended prey should seek 

 safety in some place of refuge, the 

 Goshawk perches upon a con- 

 venient bough and waits patiently. 

 As the liawk is very endurant of 

 hunger, although sufficiently ra- 

 venous when it meets with a 

 sujiply of food, it " wins, like 

 Fabius, liy delay," and pounces 

 upon the unlucky quarry, as it 

 steals out in search of food or 

 water. When it has once seized 

 its prey, it is full of exultation, and being generally rather of a ferocious disposition, 

 is apt to turn savagely upon the hand tliat attempts to remove it from its victim. 

 Its temper, indeed, is so bad, that if it should happen to escape from its jesses and 

 get among other Falcons, it will almost certainly attack and kill as many of them 

 as it can reach. For the same reason it needs to be kept constantly hooded, and 

 is less to be trusted at lilierty than any otiier Falcon. Its short flights, however, 

 render its recapture a comparatively easy matter, so that there is but little danger of 

 losing it. 



GOSHAWK. — Asfttr paJnmharins. 



