Somerville, in “Field Sports,” takes only the falconer’s view of the Sparrow-hawk, when he says: “Enough for me To boast the gentle spar-hawk on my fist, Or fly the partridge o’er the bristly field, Retrieve the covey with my busy train, Or with my soaring hobby, dare the lark.” The male Sparrow-hawk is about 12 inches long, the female often 15 inches. It has a long tail; its legs are slender, long and bare of feathers. The claws are sharp as needles. The toes are strong and the middle one is very long and slender. The bill is abruptly curved from the base, with a greenish-yellow cere. The plumage is bluish-grey above; while beneath, on the belly, it is crossed with wavy lines on a light ground. The tail has five dark ribbon-like bands across it. The Sparrow-hawk nests by preference in spruce plantations at a height of from 12 to 15 feet; it also makes use of deserted crows’ nests. The clutch consists of four or five, occasionally six, and still more rarely seven eggs, chalky-white or greenish in colour, with drab-coloured spots. [Illustration: 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. [Illustration: CHIEFLY HURTFUL. THE GOSHAWK.]