The Goshawk. 201 



the following observations : " The Goshawk, before it 

 has shed its feathers, that is, in the first year, is marked 

 on the breast and belly with longitudinal brown spots ; 

 but after it has had two moultings they disappear, and 

 their place is occupied by transverse bars, which con- 

 tinue during the rest of its life." He further observes 

 that, " though the male was much smaller than the 

 female, it was fiercer and more vicious." The Goshawk 

 is found in France and Germany ; it is not common in 

 England, but is more so in Scotland. In former times 

 the custom of carrying a Hawk or Falcon on the hand 

 was confined to men of high distinction ; so that it was 

 a saying among the Welsh, " You may know a gentle- 

 man by his Hawk, horse, and greyhound." Even the 

 ladies in those times were partakers of this gallant sport, 

 and have been represented in pictures with Hawks on 

 their hands. At present hawking is almost entirely laid 

 aside in this country, as the expense which attended it, 

 being very considerable, confined it to princes and men 

 of the highest rank. In the time of James the First, 

 Sir Thomas Monson is said to have given a thousand 

 pounds for a cast of Hawks. In the reign of Edward 

 the Third it was made felony to steal a Hawk; to 

 take its eggs, even in a person's own grounds, was 

 punishable with imprisonment for a year and a day, 

 together with a fine at the king's pleasure. Such was 

 the delight our ancestors took in this royal sport, and 

 such were the means by which they endeavoured to 

 secure it. The Falcons, or Hawks, chiefly used in these 

 kingdoms were the Goshawk, the Peregrine Falcon, 

 Iceland Falcon, and the Ger Falcon. The game usually 

 pursued were cranes, wild geese, pheasants, and par- 

 tridges. The Duke of St. Albans is still hereditary 

 grand falconer of England, but the office is not now 

 exercised, except for the Duke's own amusement. 



