Samuel Cabot writes to Thoreau:
It [the American goshawk] was first described by [Alexander] Wilson; lately [John James] Audubon has identified it with the European goshawk, thereby committing a very flagrant blunder. It is usually a very rare species with us. The European bird is used in hawking; and doubtless ours would be equally game. If Mr. [Jacob] Farmer skins him now, he will have to take second cut; for his skin is already off and stuffed,—his remains dissected, measured, and deposited in alcohol.
