46 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



thick wood. Its manner of flight, and the way with which it 

 dived into the wood, made me conclude at once that it was a 

 Goshawk. The only otlier large bird of prey that I could have 

 mistaken it for is the Buzzard, a bird of very different flii^ht. 



The Baz is the most highly esteemed bird of prey in India, and 

 a trained bird used to be sold for a large sum in former days. 

 They are caught when young, and sold on the skirts of the N. 

 W. Himalayas, to falconers from different parts of India, for prices 

 varying from 20 to 50 Es. for the female, and from 10 to 20 or 30 

 for the male. The Baz is trained to strike the Houbara bustard, 

 Kites, and Neophrons, Duck, and many other large water birds, as 

 Cormorants, Herons, Ibises, &c. It is, however, chiefly trained to 

 catch hares. For this purpose she is booted or furnished with 

 leather leggings to prevent her legs being injured by thorns, as the 

 hare generally drags the hawk some yards after being struck. 

 She strikes with one leg only, and stretches the other one out 

 behind to clutch grass, twigs, or any thing on the ground, to put 

 the drao-, as it were, on the hare. The Jurra is trained to strike 

 partridges, rock pigeon, crows, teal, &c., &c. The Goshawk flies 

 direct at its prey, and gets its speed at once; and if it docs not reach 

 the quarry within a reasonable distance, say from 100 to 200 yards, 

 it generally gives up the chase ; and either returns to the falconer's 

 fist, or perches on some neighbouring tree, or on the ground. 



In a wild state the Goshawk is said to be very destructive to 

 pheasants and otlier game birds. It breeds on trees, laying from 

 two to four eggs. It is found throughout the wooded parts of 

 Europe and Asia, and is occasionally killed in Scotland. A nearly 

 allied species is ^4. atricapilla of N. America, and other species are 

 found in all countries. One of the most remarkable is the 

 white Goshawk, A. novcB IIollancUcB, pure white.* 



Sub.-gen. LoPHOSPizA, Kaup. 



Merely differs from Astur by being smaller and crested, and 

 the posterior scuta of the tarsus extending to the knee. 



* Pallas notices a white Goshawk as found in the extreme N. E. part of Asia. — 

 Can this be the Australian bird? 



