ASH-COLORED HAWK 



81 



myself seen a specimen of that bird in Europe, and the descrip- 

 tions of their best naturalists vary considerably; but from a care- 

 ful examination of the figure and account of the Goshawk, given 

 by the ingenious Mr. Bewick, (Brit. Birds, v. I, p. 65.) I have very 

 little doubt that the present will be found to be the same. 



The Goshawk inhabits France and Germany; is not very 

 common in South Britain, but more frequent in the northern parts 

 of the island, and is found in Russia and Siberia. Buffon, who 

 reared two young birds of this kind, a male and female, observes, 

 that "the Goshawk before it has shed its feathers, that is, in its 

 first year, is marked on the breast and belly with longitudinal 

 brown spots ; but after it has had two moultings they disappear, 

 and their place is occupied by transverse waving bars, which con- 

 tinue during the rest of its life;'' he also takes notice, that tho the 

 male was much smaller than the female, it was fiercer and more 

 vicious. 



Mr. Pennant informs us that the Goshawk is used by the em- 

 peror of China in his sporting excursions, when he is usually at- 

 tended by his grand falconer and a thousand of inferior rank. 

 Every bird has a silver plate fastened to its foot with the name of 

 the falconer who has the charge of it, that in case it should be 

 lost, it may be restored to the proper person ; but if he should not 

 be found, the bird is delivered to another officer, called the guar- 

 dian of lost birds J who, to make his situation known, erects his stan- 

 dard in a conspicuous place among the army of hunters. The 

 same writer informs us, that he examined in the Leverian mu- 

 seum, a specimen of the Goshawk which came from America, and 

 which was superior in size to the European. He adds, " they are 

 the best of all Hawks for falconry." * 



\ 



^ Avet Zool. p. 204. 

 VOL. VI. X 



