80 HISTORY OF 



The generous tribe of hawks,* as was said, are distinguished 

 from the rest by the peculiar length of their wings, which reach 

 nearly as low as the tail. In these, the first quill of the wing is 

 nearly as long as the second ; it terminates in a point, which 



inctry of its form and its elpgant plumage, but by the peeuUar gracefulness 

 of its ftiglit, and the manner in which it frequently remains suspended in 

 tUe air, fixed, as it were, to one spot, by a quivering play of the wings, 

 scarcely perceptible. It is one of our commonest indigenous species, and ia 

 M-idely spread through the kingdom. Upon the approach of spring (or the 

 period of incubation), it resorts to rocks and high clift's. The nest consists 

 of a few sticks loosely put together, and sometimes lined with a Uttle hay 

 or wool ; and is placed in some crevice, or on a projecting shelf. 



T\ie eggs are from four to six in number, of a reddish-brown colour, with 

 darker blotches and variegations.— It preys upon the different species of 

 mice, which it hmits for from the elevated station at which it usually soai-s, 

 aud upon which it pounces ^vitl^ the rapidity of au arrow. 



The kestrel is easily reclaimed, and was formerly trained to the pursuit 

 of larks, snipes, and young partridges. It is a species, in point of geogra- 

 phical distribution, very widely spread, being foimd in all parts of Europe, 

 >iid in America. 



1 he ?nerlin has generally been considered a winter or equatorial visitant, 

 and to leave Great Britain at the approach of spring, for other and more 

 northern climates. 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 ita 

 U-ibe ; frequently attacking birds superior to itself in magnitude and weight, 

 and has been known to kill a partridge at a single blow.-Like others, be. 

 ,ore eniunerated, 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 m search 



of its prey. . 



* The Goshaw/c.-TUs 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 

 U-.,oded banks of the Dee ; and, according to Low, in his Faima Orcadensis, 

 1. rather numerous in those islands (Orkneys), where it breeds m the rocks 

 and »oa-cUffs. 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. AccoriUng to Meyeb, it will even prey 

 upon the young of its o\va species. It generally builds in lofty fir trees, and 

 lays from Uvo to four eggs, of a skim-milk wliite, marked witli streaks and 

 spots of reddish-broun. 



15y falconers, it was considered to be tl.e best and most courageous of thf 

 short- winged hawks, and was accordingly trained to the pursuit of grouse, 

 pheasants, « ild geese, herous, &c- Although it is nearly equal in size to 

 tne Jer Falcon, yet the shortness of its wings, and its general coutoiu", 

 rend ly distir.guish it from that species, in all its stages of plumage. The 

 Oosha>vk b very conunon in France, as well as in Germany, Switzerland, 



