Too often a victim.
The Goshawk.
(Astur palumbárius.)
The Goshawk is bold in attack, and powerful in thrust. It is comparatively easy to tame, or at all events shows a certain tractability. Its aspect is cunning and cruel, and its claws must be carefully avoided. It is the terror of the poultry-yard and the dove-cote. When pursuing its prey nothing can divert its attention. It will even penetrate into the interior of a house. It will steal any warm-blooded animal that it can overcome, even an old hare. It seizes little Siskins, Goldfinches, Weasels, squirrels, and even mice. It lives in a constant state of warfare with the Crows. The latter birds fall upon it in flocks, pull and touzle it, when they catch it, but the Hawk usually carries the day. With a mighty thrust he seizes his prey from among the black mass, and gets away from his pursuers. It likes best districts where wood and field alternate, but it also settles in the neighbourhood of villages where it causes great damage among the poultry.
Next to the Lanner—falco lanarius—the Goshawk was the favourite among sportsmen in the olden days as indeed it still is among the nomadic tribes of Asia.
The Goshawk—Goosehawk—comes to Great Britain as an occasional visitor only, in autumn, winter, and now and again in the spring. There used to be some eyries in old fir-woods in the valley of the Spey a century ago, but in Scotland the Peregrine Falcon is called the Goshawk. In some old Scottish works on Falconry it is stated that the best Goshawks came from Ireland.
