538 SUPPLEMENT. 



woods, and by the edges of ponds and rivers, with such speed as to 

 enable him to seize his prey by merely deviating a few yards from 

 his course ; assisting himself on such occasions by his long tail, 

 which, like a rudder, he throws to the right or the left, upward or 

 downward, to check his progress or enable him suddenly to alter his 

 course. At times he passes like a meteor through the underwood, 

 where he secures hares and squirrels with ease. Should a flock of 

 "Wild Pigeons pass him when on these predatory excursions, he 

 immediately gives chase, soon overtakes them, and, forcing his way 

 into the very centre of the flock, scatters them in confusion, when 

 you may see him emerge with a bird in his talons, and dive toward 

 the depth of the forest to feed upon his victim. When travelling he 

 flies high, with a constant beat of the wings, seldom moving in large 

 circles, like other Hawks.'' 



The Goshawk is not adapted for long flights : its wings are so 

 shaped that it is more natural for the bird to make short dashes near 

 the earth, unlike, in this respect, some other species that capture 

 their prey by the chase in the air. As a trained bird, the European 

 variety is considered to be one of the most valuable. Its mode of 

 hunting is said to be singularly like that of the cheetah. Like that 

 animal, it is not nearly so swift as the prey, and, therefore, is 

 obliged to steal upon it, and seize his victim by a sudden and 

 unexpected pounce. The female Goshawk is strong enough to bear 

 off a hare. This species is the handsomest of all our native Falcons ; 

 in full plumage, its lilac hues and the trim, graceful form of its body 

 render it surpassingly beautiful. The length of the female is 

 twenty-two to twenty-four inches ; wing about fourteen. The male 

 is about twenty inches in length. A characteristic of this bird is 

 the extremely upright posture it assumes when perching. 



Pseudogbyphus caufobnianus. California Condor, California Vul- 

 ture. — This Vulture rivals in size the great Condor of South Amer- 

 ica. Its habitat is the Pacific coast region, from the mouth of the 

 Colorado to the Columbia. It is not known in- Mexico, but is 

 confined mostly to the warmer portions of California. Dr. New- 

 berry says that it was to him a pleasant portion of every day's expe- 

 rience, in his march through Sacramento Valley, to watch the graceful 

 evolutions of this Vulture. In its colors the combination was a pleas- 

 ing one, while its flight was easy and effortless beyond that of any other 

 bird. It possesses immense muscular powers. Dr. Heerman states 

 that four of them dragged the body of a young grizzly bear, that 

 weighed over a hundred pounds, the distance of two hundred yards. 



