THE GOSHAWK. 
rapacious brethren, the hawks. The first three wing-feathers 
of the eagle are shorter than the fourth and fifth, while in the 
falcon the first feather is the longest, and in the common hawk 
the first and third feathers are of equal length, and the second 
the longest. The falcons may be distinguished from all other 
birds by their compact form, their bold-set bullet heads, and 
their sharp curved claws. 
The whole family is carnivorous, and as eager for prey as 
the most savage beast in an African jungle. Flesh, fish, and 
fowl, — nothing in the shape of animal food comes amiss to 
them. When hard pressed by hunger, they will not scruple 
to devour every atom — including bones and feathers — of any 
bird they may capture. This, however, does no harm to the 
bird; on the contrary, it is a wise provision of nature for 
cleansing the stomach of the voracious feeder, the indigestible 
portions of the diet being rejected in the form of oblong pellets, 
or castings, as the falconer calls them, the bones being neatly 
packed in the skin and feathers. 
THE GOSHAWK. 
The largest of the hawks is the goshawk, called by ancient 
writers the “ falcon gentle,” and reputed by them to be the 
most courageous of living birds. The goshawk is larger even 
than the ger-falcon, but is shorter in the wing, and not nearly 
so compact and tight-looking. 
The female of this member of the hawk family is altogether 
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