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British Birds. 
THE 
GOS HAWK. 
(Astur pcilumbarius.) 
The Gos Hawks and 
Sparrow Hawks differ from 
the Harriers in having the 
hinder portion of the tarsus 
transversely scaled and not reticulated, and in 
lacking the facial ruff. The Gos Hawks are 
heavily built and powerful birds, with strong 
feet and talons and a very stout bill, whereas 
the Sparrow-Hawks are of a much more slender 
and supple build. In both groups the wings 
are very short and rounded, as compared with 
the long and pointed wings of a Falcon, and 
they capture much of their prey in direct pursuit 
through bushes and undergrowth, as well as 
The Gos Hawk. by pouncing down or snatching unsuspecting 
quarry. 
The Gos Hawk is believed to have bred in Scotland in former times, but is now 
only known as a visitor to Great Britain. Its range extends throughout Europe 
and Northern Asia to Japan. It feeds on hares or rabbits, which it captures with 
the utmost dexterity and swiftness, as well as on all kinds of game-birds, and 
it is often trained by Falconers for the pursuit of these. The swiftness with which 
it can follow the doublings of a rabbit in the open give the latter but little chance of 
escape. The nest is a large structure of sticks placed on some tall tree, and is 
added to year by year. Moss and roots form a scanty lining, but there is no 
attempt to line the interior of the nest with green leaves, as is done by some of the 
Accipitres. The eggs are four or five in number, bluish white, with scarcely ever any 
brown markings, and they measure 
about two-and-a-quarter to two-and- 
a-half inches in length. 
This 
THE AMERICAN 
GOS HAWK. 
[Astur atricapillus.) 
twice in Ireland. 
species 
has been noticed 
in Scotland, in 
Perthshire, and 
It very much re- 
sembles the European Gos Hawk, but 
has a black head, and is freckled, not 
barred, with black below. It is an 
inhabitant of North America, and 
resembles A. palumbarius in size, 
the male being considerably smaller 
than the female. Its habits and 
The American Gos Hawk. 
