VI. GOSHAWK. 



(Astur palumbarius.} 



DRAWN from a trained female bird belonging to Captain Salvin, 

 whose book on Hawking is well known. The attitude is a study 

 from nature. 



The Goshawk's manner of pursuing its prey is different from 

 the Peregrine's. It does not soar and pounce, but flies along 

 low, swooping on the victim and carrying it along in its flight as 

 Eagles do. 



We went out hawking with Captain Salvin and his Goshawk 

 one winter's day to Garscube, near Glasgow. A hare was soon 

 started. The bird was thrown off, and flew straight after it, but 

 presently changed its mind and flew off to the woods. We had 

 to go in pursuit of it, and spent all the afternoon searching for 

 it, guided by the cries of the little birds, who were much alarmed 

 at its appearance, and sought to drive it away with their noise. 

 We luckily found and captured it just before dark, and drove 

 back to Glasgow, having acquired some knowledge of the habits 

 of birds, though not much of the sport of hawking. The failure 

 was caused by the bird having been fed too recently, the keeper 

 not knowing in time that it was to be flown that day. 



17 



