FALCONRY. 351 



much as he needs himself, but not more" ( Krnstatli, 

 xiii. 4). 



" A man named Karl had a brother, Bjorn. They were of 

 low birth, but very industrious men. They had before been 

 salt-burners, and had earned money and become traders. Tln-y 

 went on trading-journeys to Saxland and Sudrriki" 1 (Magnus 

 the Good's Saga). 2 



Among the favourite pastimes of the Norsemen were falconry 

 and hunting. Falconry existed in the North from the earliest 

 times, and may have been brought into France, England, and 

 other countries in Europe by the Northmen. Its existence 

 is not, I think, mentioned in the Roman accounts of the 

 countries conquered by them, and the low civilisation of the 

 tribes inhabiting Gerniania in the Roman period did not 

 admit of such a pastime. 



Men had their hawks burned with them and a number of 

 the talons of these birds have been found in several graves. 



The inference drawn from the Sagas that men when o;oini>- 



o O O 



on a journey had their hawks with them, is corroborated by 

 the Bayeux tapestry, where numerous chiefs are seen with 

 these birds. 



When Hrolf Kraki and his men walked into the hall of 

 King Adils at Upsala, it is said- 



" They had their hawks on their shoulders, and it was 

 thought a great ornament in those times. King Hrolf had 

 a hawk called Habrok " 3 (Hrolf Kraki's Saga, c. 40). 4 



" One day the king (Olaf of Sweden) rode out early with 

 his hawks and dogs 5 and men with him. When they let loose 

 the hawks the king's hawk in one flight killed two heathcocks 

 (Tetrao tetrix), and at once he again flew forward and killed 

 three more. The dogs ran underneath and took every bird 

 that fell down on the ground. The king galloped after, and 

 picked up the game himself, and boasted much. He said : 

 * Long will it be before you hunt like this.' Tl\ey assented, 



1 By Sudrriki seems to be meant the 

 south of Europe. 



2 Cf. also Fridthjof's Saga, c. 11. 



They had many kinds of dogs, some 

 of which were very fierce Irish sheep 

 dogs were known, and their value appre- 



3 Habrok is mentioned in the enrlier I ciated at a very early time by the 

 Edda Grimnismal. 44, as " the best of | Northmen, and there were penalties for 

 hawks." killing dogs. 



4 Cf. also c. 44, ibid. 



