596 



10 



of Germany where he resides the Goshawk breeds about the same time as the Buzzard, either 

 repairing and using its old nest or building a fresh one. The nest is placed on a main fork 

 of the tree, usually an oak or beech ; and most frequently three or four, but occasionally five 

 eggs are deposited late in April. On the 21st April this year (1875) he took three fresh eggs, 

 one of which was marked with reddish brown spots and pale clay-coloured blotches, the second 

 was slightly blotched with clay-yellow, and the third was bluish white unmarked. On the 29th 

 April he found that the bird had taken possession of a Buzzard's nest, about eight hundred yards 

 from its old nest ; and on sending up Bergisch, his climber (an excellent birds-nester, as I can 

 testify; for he accompanied me when 1 collected there in 1874), he found that it had deposited 

 two eggs, which were taken. The bird sat very close, and did not leave until Bergisch had 

 mounted some distance, the tree being a very high beech. One of these two eggs was marked 

 with clay-yellow, and the other was plain bluish white. Mr. Sachse further informs me that 

 near Magdeburg he frequently found its nest, and that it is numerous in East Prussia and 

 Silesia. 



Like many of the larger birds of prey the Goshawk sometimes breeds before it has attained 

 the adult dress; and Mr. Fischer remarks that should a nest be found, and the old female shot, 

 her place is usually taken by a young female the next season. I have also heard of similar 

 instances of Goshawks breeding in the brown dress, and have been assured that these young 

 females lay rather smaller eggs than the old ones. Referring to the size of eggs in his collection, 

 Mr. Benzon informs me that eggs from Denmark are, as a rule, larger than those from Germany 

 and Austria. 



The specimens figured are an old female and a young male, both from Wermland, in 

 Sweden, and are those above described. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



a, 2 ad. Wermland, Sweden, May 10th, 1869 (shot off nest), b, c, <3juv. Wermland, 1869. c, 2 ad. Arch- 

 angel, December 6th, 1873 (Piottuch). d, d ad. Glennik, Archangel, November 27th, 1873 (Piottuch). 

 e,2juv. Archangel, October 1873 (Piottuch). f,2juv. Christiania, Norway, August 30th, 1872 (R. 

 Collett). g, 6 . Central Russia (Dode). h, S , i, 2 ■ Near Stettin (H. E. D.) . k, <3 . Dessau, March 19th, 

 1872 (Schliiter). I, pull. Galicia, 1872 (Baron A. von Hiigel). m, 6 . Spain (H. L. Irby). 



E Mus. Lord Lilford. 

 a, 2 ■ Shot from nest, Coto de Doiiana, Spain, May 3rd, 1872 (L.). 



