THE GOSHAWK. 

 (Astur palumbdrius.) 



THE Goshawk is bold in attack, and powerful in thrust. 

 It is comparatively easy to tame, or at all events shows 

 a certain tractability. Its aspect in cunning and cruel, 

 and its claws must be carefully avoided. It is the terror 

 of the poultry-yard and the dove-cote. When pursuing 

 its prey nothing can divert its attention. It will even 

 penetrate into the interior of a house. It will steal any 

 warm-blooded animal that it can overcome, even an old 

 hare. It seizes little Siskins, Goldfinches, Weasels, 

 squirrels, and even mice. It lives in a constant state of 

 warfare with the Crows. The latter birds fall upon it in 

 flocks, pull and touzle it, when they catch it, but the 

 Hawk usually carries the day. With a mighty thrust 

 he seizes his prey from among the black mass, and gets 

 away from his pursuers. It likes best districts where 

 wood and field alternate, but it also settles in the neigh- 

 bourhood of villages where it causes great damage 

 among the poultry. 



Next to the Lanner falco lanariusthe Goshawk was 

 the favourite among sportsmen in the olden days as 

 indeed it still is among the nomadic tribes of Asia. 



The Goshawk Goosehawk comes to Great Britain 

 as an occasional visitor only, in autumn, winter, and 

 now and again in the spring. There used to be some 

 eyries in old fir-woods in the valley of the Spey a century 

 ago, but in Scotland the Peregrine Falcon is called the 

 Goshawk^ In some old Scottish works on Falconry it 

 is stated that the best Goshawks came from Ireland. 



