472 THE GOSH A WK 



goshawk will take rabbits in a ' creance,' it may be 

 considered fit for the field. If it is intended to fly the 

 bird at hares, it must, in order to take them well, be 

 kept to them only. 



A goshawk may be flown every day, and all day, if 

 her strength is maintained by being given a little to eat 

 after each kill. In using her on hares and rabbits, 

 this food may be taken from the head of the quarry, 

 such as the brain, eye, tongue, or cheeks, and this will 

 serve to teach her to seize them by one foot and grip 

 them behind with the other, thereby bringing them on 

 their side. Moorhens should not be given for food. 

 A retriever or Clumber-spaniel is the best kind of dog 

 for use with a goshawk ; and it is interesting to watch 

 how soon both hawk and dog play into each other's 

 hands, and the good feeling which they evince towards 

 each other. If the hawk is not in good condition, a 

 hare will soon pump her out. When any hawk is kept 

 on stands or blocks, it should be protected from turkeys, 

 peacocks and puppies : full-grown cats and dogs will 

 not touch it. 



Mr. Salvin records the following performance of a 

 goshawk — a female hawk — in her fourth year, which 

 took ten rabbits, holding nine of them, three of them 

 being half-grown and six old ones. The following 

 day she took two old hares of eight pounds weight 

 apiece, and two old rabbits. On the third day she 

 caught an old hare, which broke away and got off, but 

 held five leverets and one old rabbit. 



After a hare or rabbit has been frequently doubling, 

 the hawk becomes exhausted and at times sulky, and 

 will stand panting on the ground regardless of the 

 quarry, which probably escapes. Occasionally hares 



