GOSHAWK. 25 



tuft of verdure. He frequently chases and seizes partridges 

 and pigeons ; the places chosen by him rendering such birds 

 peculiarly liable to fall in his way ; he also takes small perch- 

 ing birds of any kind. Wild ducks, pheasants, black grouse, 

 crows, magpies, &c. are all acceptable. Of mammalia, he 

 takes hares, rabbits, and sometimes mice. All birds that fly 

 low are subject to become his prey, as he does not follow the 

 chase in the upper regions of the air. Wood-pigeons seem 

 to be his peculiar property, these and all other birds are 

 panic-struck by his unexpected appearance, and already bleed 

 under his grasp before they have sufficiently recovered from 

 the alarm of his sudden apparition, to be able to provide for 

 their safety by laying themselves close to the ground ; with 

 partridges this is frequently the case. He is so ardent in 

 the pursuit of his prey, that he sometimes chases pigeons 

 into the farm-yard, and, as before mentioned, occasionally 

 brings himself into captivity by pouncing upon the call-bird 

 of the bird-catcher. 



In his turn, the Goshawk is pursued by Rooks, which fol- 

 low him with clamorous outcries, and not unfrequently one 

 of these vociferous enemies pays for his boldness with the 

 forfeit of his life. 



Before he begins to tear his prey in pieces he plucks them 

 nearly clean of feathers, but small animals he swallows en- 

 tire. Living prey alone is sought by the Goshawk. 



As early as March pairs may be seen soaring over their 

 place of incubation, and describing circles high in the air. 

 They build in forests in the oldest and loftiest fir trees, oaks, 

 &c. The nest is composed of dead sticks and moss, and is 

 large and flat. The female lays three or four eggs, of a short 

 oval form, and greenish white colour ; some are marked with 

 yellowish brown spots, others quite plain. The young birds 

 which make their appearance at the expiration of three weeks, 

 are covered with a white down. During incubation the fe- 



