between the Iceland and Ger Falcons. 109 



mark sent a vessel annually to Iceland, to bring all the hawks 

 of this kind which it was possible to procure, for the use of 

 his falconers, and to be sent as presents to the different 

 princes on the Continent. They were even sent to the Bar- 

 bary states, and into the Eastern countries ; so much were 

 they esteemed. An old falconer, lately dead, has assured 

 me, that he has seen upwards of fifty Iceland falcons, at the 

 same time, in the care of persons who were about to start 

 with them as presents to the different courts of Europe. A 

 falconer who was in the hawking establishment of Louis XVI. 

 of France has informed me that they had several casts, or 

 pairs, sent annually from Denmark. 



The Icelander was greatly prized, not only on account of 

 its superior powers of flight, but its tractable gentle disposi- 

 tion. It is not so difficult to reclaim and manage as the ger 

 falcon : there is also a decided difference in their flight, and 

 manner of striking their prey ; the Icelander, in the language 

 of falconry, flies more nobly, pouncing his prey with more 

 lofty stoops. The flight of the hare with the female, the 

 male being used for the heron, kite, and buzzards, was con- 

 sidered one of the finest sights the sport could afford. An 

 open country is requisite to see this flight in perfection. The 

 hare being started, the falcon was immediately thrown off the 

 fist, and, instantly catching sight of its prey, mounted to a 

 considerable height ; a slow dog, well trained with the hawk, 

 was used to keep the hare running, as it would otherwise 

 squat on being once stooped at by the falcon. The falcon 

 kills the hare, by repeated blows on the back and head, 

 coming in an almost perpendicular direction upon it from a 

 great height, and with wonderful velocity, the blow being 

 almost imperceptibly given in passing, and the falcon again 

 rising, or, as they term it, shooting up steeple high after 

 every stoop : occasionally the victim is killed the first stoop, 

 and driven several yards by the violence of it. In a good 

 flight several lofty stoops are made. The ger falcon is also 

 flown at the hare, but does not make such lofty stoops, for 

 which the other was always so much valued, often seizing 

 hold before the hare was killed. Again, in the air, the Icelander 

 kills the crane, heron, or kite, by repeated blows ; the great 

 interest taken in the flight being to watch the exertions of 

 the falcon to outsoar its prey, and then precipitating itself 

 with closed wings and astonishing rapidity and force, its 

 prey seldom reaching the ground without being mortally dis- 

 abled ; whereas the ger falcon will frequently take hold in 

 stooping, and come to the ground with its game, keeping 

 a fast hold with its talons. An instance has occurred in the 



