26 FALCONID.E. 



male is fed by the male, at which time lie confines his pursuit 

 chiefly to the forest, and frequently takes rooks, turtle, and 

 ring-doves off their nests, thus destroying innumerable 

 broods. After the gathering in of the corn he again leaves 

 the forests and pursues the chase through corn-fields and 

 thickets as before. 



When gorged with food, and sitting at rest among the 

 branches of a tree, the Goshawk falls an easy prey to the 

 sportsman, who may then approach him unperceived by con- 

 cealing himself among the trees as he advances. In former 

 times the Goshawk was much used for the chase, and it still 

 retains the preference among short-winged hawks. It may 

 be trained to take hares, rabbits, herons, pheasants, and par- 

 tridges, pigeons, &c. Among preserves of game he is a most 

 destructive enemy ; and during the season of rearing his 

 young, commits great ravages, no inconsiderable supply of 

 food being necessary to satisfy the wants of his family. 



The beak of the Goshawk is strong, bending from the 

 base ; the upper mandible has a large tooth or festoon. The 

 nostrils are egg-shaped. The wings are short, reaching only 

 two-thirds the length of the tail ; the first quill-feather is 

 much shorter than the second ; the third and fourth of equal 

 length, and the longest in the wing ; the. shafts of all rather 

 stout and strong. The legs and feet are of moderate length 

 and strength ; the middle toe long, the claws much hooked 

 and sharp, the balls beneath the toes, which constitute the 

 sole of the foot, are very prominent. 



In the adult male the cere, legs, and feet, are full yellow ; 

 the claws black ; the beak is bluish horn colour at the base, 

 black at the tip ; the iris orange-yellow. Over the eyes a 

 white streak, inclining towards the back of the head ; the 

 space between the beak and the eyes is covered with white 

 clown, and radiating black hairs. The head, neck, back, 

 wings and tail, are cinereous ash-colour, intermixed with 



