218 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



known goshawk. This bird was a female, named 

 Gosette, and, from the accounts I have heard 

 and read of her performances, must have been 

 a truly marvellous hawk. At one time the 

 goshawk used to breed in Britain, though nowa- 

 days it has ceased to do so. It is a beautiful 

 bird, and powerful enough to kill rabbits, or even 

 hares. Many of those which are brought to this 

 country are procured from the Valkenswaard, in 

 Holland, where they are captured when migrating. 

 The male bird is not often used for hawking 

 purposes, being less powerful than the female. 

 The goshawk, from all accounts, appears to be an 

 extremely intelligent and hard-working hawk when 

 well trained, and is therefore of considerable value 

 for sporting purposes. It is very much to be 

 regretted that it has ceased to make its home with 

 us as formerly. 



The plumage of the goshawk is ashy-brown 

 above, with a light band passing over the eye ; 

 the under parts are white barred with ashy-brown, 

 and the tail ashy-brown barred with dark brown. 

 The length of the male bird is but nineteen inches, 

 that of the female from twenty-three to twenty- 

 four inches. 



Of our British hawks, the sparrow hawk and 

 kestrel are the most common, and both may be 

 said to be resident in this country. A short time 

 ago a friend of mine, who is devoted to the study 

 of birds, remarked to me that he considered the 

 sparrow hawk, in appearance and general bearing, 



