24 FALCONID.E. 



petite sometimes leads him into clanger, and lie thus readily 

 falls into snares or traps laid for him by the bird-catcher. 

 The male, although smaller than the female, greatly surpasses 

 her in boldness, courage, and quickness : he is therefore more 

 valued by the falconer. The Goshawk was at all times a 

 favourite falcon for the chase, although being stubborn and 

 self-willed, he is more difficult to train than some other spe- 

 cies. Rapine and love of bloodshed characterize him, yet 

 these savage qualities are united with much courage, sagacity, 

 strength, and agility. His voice in times of danger is a loud 

 single note, many times repeated, and bears a great resem- 

 blance to that of the Sparrow-hawk ; besides this cry, he 

 utters another much resembling the note of the Peregrine 

 Falcon, which is chiefly used when engaged in a contest with 

 some other bird of prey. When the Goshawk seeks a place 

 of rest, it is usually a branch in the middle of a tree ; he is 

 never seen in the top, and rarely on a rock in open country. 

 He passes the night generally in copse wood, in preference 

 to large trees, or if he chooses a pine tree he perches only ten 

 or twenty feet from the ground. When at rest he sits in a 

 slouching attitude, with his back raised, and his head rather 

 depressed ; but does not drop his tail in the manner that 

 some other birds of prey are in the habit of doing. This 

 bird is less noble in the acceptation of the term by falconers 

 than some other Hawks. He catches, indifferently, flying and 

 perching birds, the large and the small ; he does not descend 

 upon them from above like other falcons, but attacks them 

 from below or sideways. 



He is fond of woods, and in such places he chiefly resides, 

 and there retreats with his prey in order to consume it at his 

 pleasure. No uninvited guests dare approach him while en- 

 gaged in this occupation, but in order to avoid interruption 

 he usually conceals himself when at meals. If his wooded 

 retreat be too distant he will hide himself behind a bush or 



