46 



HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



terminates in a point, which begins to dimin- 

 ish from about an inch of its extremity. This 

 sufficiently distinguishes the generous breed 

 from that of the baser race of kites, sparrow- 

 hawks and buzzards, in which the tail is 

 longer than the wings, and the first feather 

 of the wing is rounded at the extremity. They 

 differ also in the latter having the fourth fea- 

 ther of the wing the longest ; in the generous 

 race it is always the second. 



This generous race, which have been taken 

 into the service of man, are endowed with 

 natural powers that the other kinds are not 

 possessed of. From the length of their wings, 

 they are swifter to pursue their game ; from a 

 confidence in this swiftness, they are bolder 

 to attack it; and from an innate generosity, 

 they have an attachment to their feeder, and, 

 consequently, a docility which the baser kinds 

 are strangers to. 



The gyr-falcon leads in this bold train. 

 He exceeds all other falcons in the largeness 

 of his size, for he approaches nearly to the 



bution, very widely spread, being found in all part of 

 Europe, and in America. 



The Merlin has generally been considered a winter 

 or equatorial visitant and to leave Great Britain at the 



approach of spring, for other and more northern cli- 

 mates. Its migration is however confined to the southern 

 parts of the island. Inferior as this species is in size, 

 it fully supports the character of its tribe; frequently 

 attacking birds superior to itself in magnitude and 

 weight, and has been known to kill a partridge at a 

 single blow. Like others, before enumerated, it became 

 subjected to the purposes of pastime, and was trained to 

 pursue partridges, snipes, and woodcocks. Its flight is 

 low and rapid, and it is generally seen skimming along 

 the sides of hedges in search of its prey. 



The Goshawk. (See Plate XVI. fig. 13 : for swallow- 

 tailed hawk, see fig. 12.) This powerful species of falcon 

 is very rarely met with in England. In the wild and 

 mountainous districts of Scotland it is more common, 

 and is known to breed in the forest of Rothiemurchus, 

 and on the wooded banks of the Dee; and, accord ing to 

 Low, in his Fauna Orcadensis, is rather numerous in 

 those islands (Orkneys), where it breeds in the rocks 

 and sea-cliffs. Its flight is very rapid, but generally 

 low, and it strikes its prey upon the wing. Different 

 kinds of feathered game, wild ducks, hares and rabbits 

 form its principal food. According to Meyer, it will 

 even prey upon the young of its own species. It gener- 

 ally builds in lofty fir trees, and lays from two to four 

 eggs, of a skim-milk white, marked with streaks and 

 spots of reddish-brown. By falconers, it was considered 

 to be the best and most courageous of the short- winged 

 hawks, and was accordingly trained to the pursuit of 

 grouse, pheasants, wild geese, herons, &c. Although it 



magnitude of the eagle. The top of the head 

 is fiat and of an ash-colour, with a strong, 

 thick, short, and blue beak. The feathers of 

 the back and wings are marked with black 

 spots, in the shape of a heart ; he is a coura- 

 geous and fierce bird, nor fears even the eagle 

 himself ; but he chiefly flies at the stork, the 

 heron, and the crane. He is mostly found in 

 the colder regions of the north, but loses nei- 

 ther his strength nor his courage when brought 

 into the milder climates. 



The falcon, properly so called, is the second 

 in magnitude and fame. There are some va- 

 rieties in this bird ; but there seem to be only 

 two that claim distinction ; the falcon-gentil 

 and the peregrine-falcon ; both are much less 

 than the gyr, and somewhat about the size of 

 a raven. They differ but slightly, and per- 

 haps only from the different states they were 

 in when brought into captivity. Those dif- 

 ferences are easier known by experience 

 than taught by description. The falcon-gen- 

 til 1 moults in March, and often sooner ; the 



is nearly equal in size to the jer falcon, yet the short- 

 ness of its wings, and its general contour, readily dis- 

 tinguish it from that species, in all its stages of plum- 

 age. The goshawk is very common in France, as well 

 as in Germany, Switzerland, and Russia. In Holland 

 it is rare. The " falcon gentil," from its description, 

 must be referred to this species. 



The Sparrow-hawk.- This destructive and well-known 

 species is remarkable for the great difference in size 

 between the male and female the former seldom measur- 



ing twelve inches in length, whilst the latter often ex- 

 ceeds fifteen inches. It is one of the boldest of its 

 genus, and the female, from her superior size, is a fatal 

 enemy to partridges and other game, as well as pigeons. 

 It flies low, skimming over the ground with great 

 swiftness, and pounces its prey upon the wing with un- 

 erring aim. The force of its stroke is such as generally 

 to kill, and sometimes even to force out the entrails of 

 its victim. It is common in most parts of the kingdom, 

 but particularly frequents the lower grounds, and well- 

 wooded inclosures. It Builds in low trees, or thorn 

 bushes, forming a shallow and flat nest, composed of 

 slender twigs, and very similar to that of the ring dove, 

 but rather larger. It will occasionally occupy the de- 

 serted nest cf a crow. The sparrow-hawk is very widely 

 diffused and found in all parts of Europe. In the days 

 of falconry it was trained, and much approved in the 

 pursuit of partridges, quails, and many other birds. 

 Abridged from Setty't Illustrations of British Orni- 

 thology. 



1 The falcons gentil are now ascertained to be merolv 

 the young of the goshawk. 



