40 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



Jardine in the third volume of his " Illustrations of Ornithology." 

 " The greatest and most perceptible distinction between the two 

 birds is in the markings of the breast and underparts, and it is so 

 distinct as to be at once perceived. In the American species the 

 under parts are of a uniform pale greyish white, having the quill 

 and centre of each feather black, forming a dark streak. This 

 extends to those in the middle of the belly, after which it is hardly 

 visible; every feather in addition is clouded transversely with 

 irregular bars of grey. In the European bird, the markings are 

 in the shape of two decided transverse dark bars upon each 

 feather, with the shaft of the same colour, but not exceeding its 

 own breadth, each as a whole, having a different appearance." 



I have only to add to this description, that a fine European 

 Goshawk now before me, which was shot off the nest by the late 

 Mr Wheelwright, has each feather on the breast marked with 

 three distinct transverse bars, and that the subject of this notice 

 shows the longitudinal streak on the breast to be almost confined 

 to the shaft of each feather. 



Like its European relative, this Goshawk is swift in flight, 

 travelling, when at home, high in the air for long distances, and 

 continuing its journey with a constant beat of the wings, and 

 seldom deviating from its course, unless tempted by some large 

 flock of passing birds. Audubon gives a highly graphic account 

 of its habits in the second volume of his " Ornithological Bio- 

 graphy," from which I select the following short extract: 

 " While travelling along the Ohio, I observed several hawks of 

 this species in the train of millions of passenger pigeons. Towards 

 the evening of the same day, I saw one abandoning its course to 

 give chase to a large flock of Crow Blackbirds (Quiscalus versicolor) 

 then crossing the river. The hawk approached them with the 

 swiftness of an arrow, when the blackbirds rushed together so 

 closely, that the flock looked like a dusky ball passing through 

 the air. On reaching the mass, he, with the greatest ease, seized 

 first one, then another, giving each a squeeze with his talons, and 

 suffering it to drop upon the water. In this manner he had pro- 

 cured four or five before the poor birds reached the woods, into 

 which they instantly plunged, when he gave up the chase, swept 

 over the water in graceful curves, and picked up the fruits of his 

 industry, carrying each bird singly to the shore." 



