THE GOSHAWK. 



303 



gray, marked with a paler hue ; the under portions of the body are pale 

 reddish fawn, marked with dark streaks on the chest and spotted on the 

 abdomen ; the thighs and under tail-coverts are of the same hue as the 

 abdomen, but without the spots. The upper surface of the tail is of the 

 same hue as the head, marked with a single broad band of black near 

 its extremity and tipped with white, while its under surface is gray- 

 white, marked with a number of narrow irregular bars of a darker hue, 

 in addition to the black band and white tip, which are the same as on 

 the upper surface. The legs, toes, cere, and orbits of the eyes are yel- 

 low, the claws are black, and the beak is slaty blue, deepening toward 

 the point. 



The females and young males are differently marked, and are alto- 

 gether of a darker and more ruddy hue. The head and neck are ruddy 

 fawn, marked with many transverse 

 .darker stripes, and the back, upper 

 portions, and tail are red-brown cov- 

 ered with numerous irregular blue- 

 black bars. The males do not as- 

 sume their appropriate plumage until 

 they have completed their first year. 

 The length of the male bird is about 

 thirteen inches, and that of the fe- 

 male fifteen inches. 



We now come to a large and im- 

 portant genus of Hawks, which is 

 represented in England by the Gos- 

 hawk. 



This handsome bird is even larger 

 than the jer-falcon, the length of an 

 adult male being eighteen inches, and 

 that of his mate rather more than two 

 feet. It is not, however, so powerful 

 or so swift-winged a bird as the jer- 

 falcon, and its mode of taking prey 

 is entirely different. 



When trained, the 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 

 chetah, Avhich has already been mentioned on page 67. Like that 

 animal, it is not nearly so swift as its prey, and therefore is obliged 

 to steal upon and seize its victim by a sudden and unexpected pounce. 

 When it has once grasped its prey it is rarely found to loose its hold, 

 even after the most violent struggles or the most furious attack. 



The Goshawk {Astur palumbarius). 



