IN PURSUIT OF PIIEY. 91 



to spring them, and make them take wing while the enemy is in sight. 

 But they are quite aware of their safety on the ground. They 

 know well, although the gamekeeper, and his master even do not, 

 that the long-winged hawk will never dash out her own brains by 

 dealing her impetuous stoop upon a sitting prey. They know, 

 moreover, that she and her keen-winged mate, the tercel, will keep 

 far more dangerous enemies at a distance, namely the carrion crows, 

 the hen-harrier, and even the raven. It is in crossing over the more 

 distant moors that the falcon now and then is lucky enough to espy 

 a grouse on the wing — flying, perhaps, to water, or sprung by the 

 shepherd's coUey — and then, certainly, woe betide it, unless it has 

 tim^ to throw itself down upon the heather. 



Partridge and pheasants are perfectly safe, unless the falconer, 

 with his dogs, is in the league against them. Old black-game are 

 not much afraid of the Peregrine, which will rarely stoop at them 

 unless specially trained, and the young birds never expose them- 

 selves, being especially addicted to the ground. For my own part, 

 I would cherish a falcon's eyrie even in the midst of a grouse-moor 

 of any extent, if only for the profound respect in which it would 

 keep the whole generation of corbies, old and young ; forcing them 

 to forage in the enclosed country, and to shun the open moor. But 

 more of this latter bird hereafter, and of its singular dealings with 

 regard to the Peregrine. 



Having hazarded these preliminary remarks, I must hasten to the 

 subject of this paper. Avoiding all details that pertain only to fal- 

 conry, I will endeavour to describe some circumstances as to the 

 falcon'*s mode of flying at different kinds of prey, regarding her con- 

 duct both as a wild denizen of our free border air, and as obedient 

 to a falconer's training. The history of rapacious birds will always 

 be incomplete, until accumulated observations, taken in districts like 

 our own, favourable for tlie purpose, shall enable us to know their 

 habits under excitement as well as at rest. They should be espe- 

 cially noticed in the neighbourhood of their nests, and whilst en- 

 gaged in providing for their ravenous broods ; a task requiring cau- 

 tion, patience, and forbearance, in the observation — which some of our 

 friends will perhaps call into use on some future occasion, and with 

 far more benefit to the 'subject than is to be expected from any 

 thing I now hope to offer. 



In mentioning the falcon's mode of dealing with different birds, 

 and their different endeavours to escape, it seems best to begin with 



