104 



" The last Hawking establishment in England, which was con- 

 ducted on a very liberal scale, and which had for its object the pursuit 

 of the lordly Heron, was kept by a small society of gentlemen who 

 had their annual meetings at Didlington, the seat of Lord Berners, 

 in Norfolk. Twelve or fifteen years ago (when, from various reasons, 

 the Club ceased to exist) some of the members unwilling to be 

 deprived of their favourite sport, determined to look out for a new 

 arena. 



" In some old history of the middle ages, it was found that the 

 most celebrated ground for Falconry had been at the Loo, in 

 Holland, in the neighbourhood of Arnheim. Thither some of our 

 amateur sportsmen bent their way, and found that every requisite 

 for carrying on the sport on a princely scale still existed. The 

 Palace at the Loo was once the favourite residence of our Great 

 William.* It was here that his noble mind relaxed itself from 

 the turmoils of war and politics, and enjoyed in quiet the chase 

 of the red deer, which are not yet extinct in the extensive woods 

 which surround Het Loo. 



" This palace was now the seat of King William the First, who 

 having resigned the Government of Holland to his son, had 

 chosen that delightful spot for his residence. To him then was 

 application made for permission to form a Hawking Club at the 

 Loo. The proposal met with the greatest encouragement from 

 him ; and his grandson, Prince Alexander, was named President of 

 the Club ; of which the present King of Holland, and most of the 

 Dutch nobility, with about a dozen Englishmen, were members. 



" The grounds at Het Loo are as favourable as is possible for the 

 sport. An immense Heronry is situated in a lofty wood, and the 

 country around consists of dry sandy plains. The season for the 

 sport is in May, June, and July, while the Herons are engaged in 

 rearing their young. 



" The site of the day's sport cannot be fixed till the morning 

 arrives. It must be to leeward of the Heronry, as that bird 

 always turns down wind when pursued, and could he reach the 

 high wood in that direction, it would not only soon terminate the 

 sport and protect the game, but very probably cause the loss of 

 the Falcons. 



" The Falconers employed by the Club, of whom there are two 

 distinct parties, of three or four men each, reside during the great- 

 est part of the year at their native village of Falkensvaerd, where 

 their forefathers have followed the same profession and supplied 

 Europe with Falconers from time immemorial. On the plains near 

 their home, the young Falcons, Peregrines, who have already learnt 

 to prey for themselves, are caught in the autumn or winter, by 

 means of a pigeon and a bow net, and put in training for the spring 

 campaign. 



* Note by the Editor. — Some doubt having arisen as to who my friend 

 means by our Great William, I am requested to explain, that it does not allude 

 to a highly respected member of our Club who might merit that title, but to 

 William III., whom Waterton irreverently designates "Dutch William." 



