time about the same locality as that in which the bird
above referred to was killed, and that an empty nest,
supposed to have been built by these Hawks, was
discovered by Sir Robert’s gamekeeper. In November
1888 the present Lord Kesteven was good enough, at
my request, to make further inquiry into this matter,
with the following result:—Firstly, a letter signed
“ Frank Sheffield,” to the effect that “ A Gos-Hawk was
killed some 25 years ago, in the spring, on Sir Robert
Sheffield’s property by the head-keeper. A pair of
Gos-Hawks frequented a large larch-plantation for some
time, and the specimen shot, and stuffed by Leadbeater,
was the female; a large nest was found near the place,
and the male, though seen for a day or two following
(the death of his mate), did not remain. The specimen
is still at Normanby Park. Secondly, a letter addressed
to Lord Kesteven by Mr. J. 0. Sheffield, who, enclosing
the letter just quoted from his brother, adds, “ I also
wrote to the gamekeeper at Normanby for information;
he says, ‘ My father shot the Gos-Hawk, but I cannot
tell you the year, I remember it was the day before a
Good Friday; there was another about at the time, but
they could not get it, and some little time afterward we
found the nest they had built in the Warren plantation,
about 20 yards from where my father shot the bird at
roost in a larch-tree.’ ” This statement is unsigned, but
Mr. J. Sheffield, in the same letter to Lord Kesteven,
enclosed a note, dated Burton-on-Stather, Doncaster,
November 15,1888, which runs thus :—“ Hona Sir, The
Gos-Hawk was killed March 27, 1864. I am, Sir, your
ob‘ servant, Jas. Coulthcrst, Jun.” I do not think
GOS — HAWK, plumage of first year.
Astur palumbarius (Linn.).