Goshawk. 



specially qualified to pronounce an opinion, that while hawking in 

 the meadows near Salisbury, the tame goshawk on his wrist showed 

 by its manner and cry that a wild bird of the same species was at 

 hand; and having his attention thus aroused, he clearly saw a wild 

 Goshawk flying in a straight course high over his head, and he 

 added that he had no doubt as to the bird's identity, since he was 

 so very familiar with it from constantly hawking with the same 

 species. Moreover, I see no reason why the Goshawk should not 

 occasionally visit us, seeing how common it is in Germany, where 

 I have fallen in with it more than once ; and how capable it is of 

 prolonged flight. More satisfactory is my second instance, for my 

 neighbour Major Heneage informs me that a handsome specimen 

 of this species was shot by his eldest son at Compton Bassett in 

 September, 1885. It derives its generic name astur so the 

 B.O.U. Committee informs us from atrfa 'a star/ as if a 'starred 

 or spotted hawk ;' and doubtless the specific name palumbarius 

 is derived from its supposed penchant for doves, and so in Sweden 

 it is called Duf Hok, or ' Dove Hawk ;' and in Italy Sparviere da 

 Columbi ; but in France L'Autour. Professor Newton tells us 

 that ' gos hawk ' means ' goose hawk ;' and that, though equal in 

 size to the largest of them, it is inferior in powers to the falcons, 

 but is the best of the short-winged hawks. The generic name 

 Astur in Spanish and Portuguese became Azor or Agor ; and 

 when the Azores were first visited, this species of hawk was so 

 abundant there that the islands were named after them, and have 

 retained the name to this day. The Goshawk is a heavy bird and 

 flies low, taking its prey, in a great measure, from the ground. 

 It is of sluggish, indolent habits, unlike its near relative the 

 Sparrow Hawk, and will sit for hours on the branch of a tree 

 waiting for its victim. Nevertheless, it is, as Seebohm says, 

 nothing else than a giant Sparrow Hawk. 



10. SPARROW HAWK (Accipiter nisus). 



The short- winged Hawks (of which this is our commonest species) 

 take their prey in a different manner from the long- winged or true 

 Falcons. Instead of rising above it in circles, and then stooping 



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