GOSH A WKS 335 



(an eyess) in 1886, 26 partridges (all well -grown strong birds), 

 10 pheasants, 16 rabbits, 5 landrails, 12 waterhens, and one 

 stoat ; and with a female bird, in the same year, he killed 1 36 

 rabbits, 4 ducks, 3 waterhens, a pheasant and a stoat — good 

 work, indeed, for two hawks, and, as regards the male bird, 

 better than has been recorded for some time past. They grip 

 their prey firmly on taking it, and are seldom inclined to 

 ' carry.' Goshawks, though not capable of emulating the fine 

 flights of the falcons, are able to show a great deal of sport in 

 a country where the higher branches of falconry are impossible. 

 Like a good fox-terrier, there is no more delightful companion 

 in a morning's stroll round an ordinary English country-place 

 than a goshawk in good form on the fist of a man who knows 

 how to work her. If she be not required, she is no trouble ; 

 but if a good chance occurs, almost any game that is likely to 

 be met with can be killed with her. 



The determination of a goshawk is something surprising ; 

 we have seen one drive downhill at a rabbit, and as it leaped 

 four feet in the air to avoid the stroke which grazed it, turn 

 over and catch it from underneath while in the air, rolling 

 afterwards down a steep "bank head over heels, but never 

 leaving go her hold. It is not uncommon to see a rabbit 

 captured at the mouth of a- burrow, and hawk and all disappear 

 under ground ; but when she is lifted out, however much she 

 is knocked about, the rabbit is in her foot. No covert will 

 stop them, and they dash between the bars of a hurdle or 

 through a meuse like a flash of light. 



Goshawks, though easily tamed, if sufficient trouble be 

 taken with them, require experience and a considerable know- 

 ledge of condition to be induced to fly well. They must be a 

 (little lower in condition than most other hawks, but require a 

 good gorge every fifth day, lest they lose strength. It is better to 

 give them washed meat than to shorten unduly the quantity of 

 food, and when being got into flying order they may be given 

 washed meat for as much as a week at a time. It is not 

 possible to lay down fixed rules for their management, as the 



