792 HAWKS, AND 
fold greater were it not for the services of these 
hawks. The mice destroy much grass in sum¬ 
mer, and in winter they injure large numbers 
(sometimes hundreds in 4 night) of young fruit- 
trees. Tunneling] benfrith the mio\Y> thpy girdle 
the bark under its cover, so that there is no visi¬ 
ble sign of their work until the*know melts. No 
doubt both these hawks do some damage to 
poultry, and doubtless both species snatch an 
occasional rabbit or partridge, but so heavy of 
wing and clumsy are they, that such acts are 
but rare happenings in their lives. Admitting 
the worst that can be said against them, how¬ 
ever, the occasional mischief they do in this way 
is made up for, many times over, by their con¬ 
stant warfare against rats, mice, and similar 
animals. 
It is said that when a tiger once tastes human 
blood, he ever after prefers it to all other food. 
It is doubtless much the same with a hawk, 
whether of the species we are now considering 
or of others to be mentioned. A poultry-yard 
being once visited, and a taste of chicken se¬ 
cured, the visit is very sure to be repeated. 
Under such circumstances, surely, the farmer is 
justified in acting as judge, jury, and executioner 
of the wrong-doer; but, it is to be added, he is 
hardly justified in declaring war against the 
whole hawk tribe, and in destroying the inno¬ 
cent and guilty alike. 
The Rough-legged Hawk (Fig. 3, page 794) is 
another large species, a little larger than either 
of the others, and even heavier on the wing. 
Breeding further north, it visits New England 
and the Middle States chiefly in fall and winter. 
Doubtless he is often mistaken for his cousins, and 
called a “ hen hawk.” At all events, he is usually 
shot on sight; if for no other reason, then because 
of his fierce looks. And truly, with his heavy 
hooked bill and cruel-looking claws, he would 
seem to be dangerous enough to the poultry. 
Yet, notwithstanding his size and strength, he, 
too, is equipped for no more daring raid than 
an attack on a defenseless frog or snake, or the 
slaying of meadow-mice. Of the last this hawk 
consumes a great number,— probably all but a 
twentieth of his food consists of them,— while he 
rarely touches poultry or birds at all. 
Very different in appearance and habits from 
the above species is the goshawk (Fig. 4) or, as 
THEIR USES. [Jcly, 
he is ominously styled in northern New England, 
the “ blue hen-hawk.” Of rather slender build, 
when full-grown, a hawk of this sort measures 
from twenty to twenty-four inches in length. It 
is bluish slate-color above; below, white, crossed 
with many zigzag slate-colored lines. Though 
more numerous in the mountains of the far West 
and in the British possessions, the goshawk is 
not uncommon in our northernmost States in 
fall and winter, and occasionally even builds its 
nests in that region. It is a bird that loves the 
woods, and is oftener met in the shade of the 
dense pine and spruce woods than any other 
hawk. For strength and bravery, this hawk is 
not surpassed by any bird of prey. 
It feeds upon ducks, pigeons, hares, grouse, 
and poultry. It is the type of a true hunting- 
falcon, flying rapidly a few feet above the ground, 
and descending with a swift rush on the luckless 
prey detected by its sharp eyes. It is daring 
to rashness, and unlucky is the farmer whose 
poultry-yard becomes familiar ground to one of 
these hawks. Almost before the frightened fowls 
have had time to sound the alarm, it has selected 
and seized its victim, and is away more quickly 
than the gun can be snatched from its corner. 
Audubon once saw one of these falcons rush 
upon a flock of the birds called grackles as they 
were crossing the Ohio River. The birds in 
their fright collected into a compact mass, the 
hawk dashed among them, and, seizing first one 
and then another, killed five before the flock 
could escape to the woods on the further bank. 
A closely related European species was one 
of the falconers’ favorites in the old days, and 
was used in hunting hares, pheasants, partridges, 
teal, doves, and crows. Doubtless our own gos¬ 
hawk could readily be trained to hunt game, 
but of course the falconers’ days are practically 
over, though it is said a few falcons are still 
trained in England. 
The American Peregrine Falcon or Duck 
Hawk (Fig. 5) is another notable species, though 
one in which the farmer takes .less interest, both 
because it is a rather uncommon bird, and be¬ 
cause it is found chiefly on the seashore and the 
banks of rivers. 
Like the goshawk, the duck hawk is dark 
blue above, while the white underparts are 
barred and streaked with black. It is more 
