THE GOSHAWK. 27 



the names "Pigeon-hawk" and "Cuisinier" (caterer of 

 the mess). It is a voracious feeder, and yet, like all other 

 predaceous animals, is capable of enduring long intervals of 

 abstinence, hunting only once in twenty-four hours, and 

 taking its ease until stimulated by hunger to make a fresh 

 exertion. It seizes its prey either when flying or perched, 

 carries it off to a place of security, and allows no other 

 bird to approach it. In temper it is unsociable and cruel, 

 having been known, in defiance of the proverb that 

 " Hawks do not pick out Hawks' eyes," to prey on its own 

 kind. The Goshawk is a native of most of the northern 

 countries of Europe, migrating in winter towards the 

 South. In Britain it is of rare occurrence. It builds its 

 nest of sticks and moss, in lofty trees, and lays three or 

 four eggs. 



THE SPARROW-HAWK. 



ACCIPITER NISUS. 



Upper plumage dark bluish grey, with a white spot on the nape of the neck ; 

 lower reddish white, transversely barred with deep brown ; tail grey, barred 

 with brownish black ; beak blue, lightest at the base ; cere, irides, and feet 

 yellow ; claws black. Female upper parts brown passing into blackish grey ; 

 lower, greyish white barred with dark grey. Length, male twelve inches, female 

 fifteen inches ; breadth, male twenty-four inches, female twenty-eight inches. 

 Eggs bluish white, blotched and spotted with deep rusty brown. 



SINCE the introduction of fire-arms, the Goshawk and 

 Sparrow-hawk have lost much of their reputation, every 

 effort being now made to exterminate them, for carrying on, 

 on their own account, the same practices which in bygone 

 days they were enlisted to pursue on behalf of others. For 

 hawking, it must be remembered, was not exclusively a pas- 

 time followed by the high and noble for amusement's sake, 

 but was, in one of its branches, at least, a very convenient 

 method of supplying the table with game ; and that too, 

 at a period when there were not the same appliances, in the 

 shape of turnips, oil-cake, &c., for fattening cattle and pro- 



