240 



DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY. 



Goshawks. 



The European goshawk, or goose-hawk {Asiur palumbarius), is 

 the type of a very large genus, ditfering from the last by the length 

 of the ridge of the beak from in front of the cere exceeding half the length of 

 the third toe without the claw ; and further distinguished by the fourth toe being 

 about equal in length to the second, without the claws ; by the overhanging tufts 

 of feathers on the thighs ; and the absence of any tubercle in the bony nostrils. 

 The beak is short, with a distinct festoon in its cutting-edge ; the short wings 

 generally have the fourth quill the longest ; the metatarsus usually has large scutes 

 in front; and the toes are of only moderate length. Goshawks have an almost 





ADULT GOSHAWK RABBIT HAWKING. 



cosmopolitan distribution, although they are unknown in j^art of Oceania, and the 

 southern portion of South America. While the more typical forms are equal in 

 size to the largestf falcons, the smaller kinds are not larger than sparrow-hawks : 

 and so closely are the goshawks and sparrow-hawks thus connected, that some 

 writers, like Messrs. Seebohm and Bendire, unite the two genera. In general 

 appearance the European goshawk is, indeed, very like a large sparrow-hawk : 

 having, in the male, the plumage of the upper-parts of a deep bluish grey, darker 

 on the head and neck, with a light band above the eye ; while beneath it is white 

 transversely barred with greyish brown ; the tail having four dark bars, and a 

 white tip. In the female the upper plumage has a browner tinge ; while the 

 young bird is brown above, with five dark bars on the tail. Tlie colour of the 

 beak, cere, and limbs is nearly the same as in the sparrow - liawk. The male 



