GOSHAWK. <;: 



THE GOSHAWK is at once distinguished from tin- 

 by the lobe or festoon, instead of the sharp tooth, on the 

 cutting edge of the upper mandible, and by the short and 

 rounded form of the wing, which reaches only half way 

 down the tail. The Goshawk has also been separated ge- 

 nerically from the Sparrow- Hawk on account of its shorter 

 and stronger tarsus, which is covered with feathers on the 

 upper part ; and by the want of the elongation in the 

 middle toe, so conspicuous in the genus Accipiter, in which 

 genus the Goshawk was formerly arranged. 



Inferior in powers to the Falcons, though equal in size 

 to the largest of them, the Goshawk is yet the best of the 

 short-winged Hawks ; but its habits, as well as its mode 

 of flying at its game, are very different : it does not stoop 

 to its prey, like the Falcons, but glides along in a line 

 after it, and takes it by a mode which, in the language 

 of falconry, is called raking. The Goshawk was formerly 

 in esteem among falconers, and was flown at hares, rabbits, 

 pheasants, grouse, and partridges. It flies fast for a short 

 distance, may be used in an enclosed country, and will 

 even dash through woods after its prey; but if it does 

 not catch the object, it soon gives up the pursuit, and 

 perching on a bough, waits till some new game presents 

 itself. This habit of taking to a branch of a tree and 

 waiting is particularly alluded to by Colonel Thornton, 

 formerly of Thorn ville Royal, who was devoted to hawk- 

 ing, and who, in reference to the Goshawk, says, " If its 

 game takes refuge, there it waits patiently on a tree, or 

 a stone, until the game, pressed by hunger, is induced 

 to move ; and as the Hawk is capable of greater absti- 

 nence, it generally succeeds in taking it. I flew a Gos- 

 hawk," says the colonel, " at a Pheasant ; but it got into 

 cover, and we lost the Hawk : at ten o'clock next morning 



