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THE GOSHAWK. 
AMEKICAN GOSHAWK . — (Astur atricapillus .) 
After the eagles and falcons, come the Hawks, which are 
similar in appearance, but smaller. They, as well as some 
of the falcons, are famous for having been trained to use in 
the chase. In the feudal times hawking was the favourite 
amusement of kings and nobles. We have never heard of 
its being practised in our country, although it is still com- 
mon in Persia, and sometimes, though rarely, there are 
hawking parties on the continent of Europe. 
The American Goshawk is twenty-one inches long ; extent 
of wings thirty-seven inches. Its colour is dark ash, tinged 
with brown. Our species is related to a European one, 
which extends over the northern countries of the Old World. 
It is rare, migrating to the south in winter. 
ILLUSTRATIVE ANECDOTES. 
In Mr. NuttalFs Ornithology we find the following inte- 
resting particulars concerning this bird : 
On the 26th of October, 1880, I received one of these 
birds from the proprietor of Fresh Pond Hotel, in the 
moult, having the stomach crammed with moles and mice, 
and it was shot in the act of devouring a pigeon. 
The Goshawk was held in considerable esteem for fal- 
conry, and, according to Bell, was employed for this amuse- 
ment by the emperor of China, who moved sometimes to 
these excursions in great state, often bearing a hawk on his 
