BIRDS OF 

 SUBGENUS ASTUR LACEPEDE. 



135. ACCIPITER ATRICAPILLUS (WiLS.). 334. 

 American Goshawk. 



Adult dark bluish-slate blackening on the head, with a white superciliary 

 stripe ; tail with four broad dark bars ; below closely-barred with white and 

 pale-slate, and sharply streaked with blackish. Young dark-brown above, 

 the feathers with pale edges, streaked with tawny-brown on the head 

 and cervix ; below fulvous-white with oblong brown markings. Female, 2 

 feet long ; wing, 14 inches ; tail, n ; male smaller. 



HAB. Northern and Eastern North America, breeding mostly north of 

 the United States, south in winter to the Middle States. Accidental in 

 England. 



Nest in trees. 



Eggs, 3 to 6 ; soiled white faintly blotched with brown. 



The Goshawk and the Peregrine Falcon were both much 

 prized in the olden time when hawking was a princely amuse- 

 ment in Europe, and the same spirit and courage which was 

 the admiration of lords and ladies fair in those ancient days 

 still characterize the birds in their native haunts. They 

 never fail to attract the attention of the sportsman, as 

 unencumbered by hood or bell, they carry terror and dismay 

 among the ranks of the waterfowl. 



In Ontario the Goshawk is an irregular winter visitor, some- 

 times appearing in considerable numbers, and again being 

 altogether wanting for 'several years in succession. In the 

 young plumage it bears some resemblance to Cooper's Hawk, 

 but is always much larger in size, and is more bold and daring 

 in proportion, frequently carrying off poultry from the very 

 doors of houses in the suburbs of the city. 



It is one of the handsomest species of the family. A small 

 sized adult male in my collection is the finest I have ever seen, 

 a perfect model in symmetry, the colors clear and 

 bright, and the whole plumage smooth and compact, admirably 

 suited for passing rapidly through the air with the least 

 possible resistance. 



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