OCT. GOSHAWKS. 15 



and when once a hawk is accustomed to the hood, 

 the trouble of keeping her is very little. 



The goshawk, although a fine handsome bird, 

 has not the speed of any of the long- winged hawks, 

 but she flies well at rabbits. I am told that the 

 instantaneous manner in which this hawk kills a 

 rabbit, by breaking its skull at a single blow, can 

 only be understood by those who have seen it. 



But I am wandering into a subject of which I 

 know too little from personal experience to render 

 my remarks of any value, and will only recom- 

 mend those of my readers who possess time and 

 energy to procure a peregrine falcon in good health 

 and perfect plumage (the latter point is most im- 

 portant), and then, with some treatise on hawking 

 in one hand, try if he cannot soon train the hawk 

 which sits hooded on his other. With a fair share 

 of temper, patience, and careful observation, he 

 will be sure to succeed. 



The goshawk is the most rare kind in this 

 country. The only place where I know of its 

 breeding regularly is the forest of Darnaway ; but 

 I am told that they also breed in the large fir- woods 

 near the Spey. The bright piercing eye of the 

 goshawk has a peculiarly savage and cruel expres- 

 sion, without the fine bold open look of the pere- 

 grine. At this season that singular hawk, the 



