STOJilES ABOUT BIRDS. 



owner. He was then carried out into the fields, and when a wild fowl, or 

 lieron, or any suitable prey, was seen, the bird was unhooded, and let fly. 

 The amusement, which was rather a cruel one, consisted in seeing the falcoji 

 strike down its prey. The art of falconry, or hawking, was such a fashionable 

 amusement, that people of rank hardly ever stirred out without their hawks 

 perched on their wrists ; and a man, called a falconer, was employed to take 

 care of them and feed them. 



The peregrine falcon is of a family that once stood very high in the public 

 esteem. His ancestors were used in hawking, and were fed and caressed by 

 kings and nobles. No one was allowed to injure them, or to meddle with 

 their nests. But times have changed since then. The descendants of those 

 highly favoured hawks are now in little esteem. It is true they possess the 

 same qualities. They are as bold, and as brave, and their sight is as keen 

 as ever ; their plumage is as handsome, and they could be taught just as 

 readily. But fashions are altered, and no one wants them. They are now 

 despised and persecuted, and may be shot with impunity, or their nests nfled 

 without the least danger. 



In the old days of hawking, the bird that was chosen for the purpose 

 must possess certain qualities, all of which were united in the peregrine falcon. 

 He was full of spirit and daring, and would attack any bird without hesi- 

 tation ; and he had great strength of muscle, and was able to contend with 

 the larger kind of game; and, joined with these qualities, he was very 

 obedient to his master, came at the word of command, and could be petted 

 and caressed by those who had the care of him. In fact, the falcon was 

 called " noble," because he was the noblest of all the birds of prey. 



His shape is very compact, with a full, well-rounded breast, short neck, and 

 large head ; his bill is short and thick ; and his eyes are large and keen, and of a 

 deep hazel colour ; his claws are, as you see, very strong and well curved, and 

 able to grasp and seize almost anything ; his plumage is dense and strong, more 

 so than that of the rest of his family. Its general colour is deep bluish grey, 

 and the wings are barred with black ; the throat and neck are white. The 

 mother bird is the larger of the two, and her plumage is redder on the lower 

 part and less blue on the upper. In the old days she was always called the 

 " falcon," and her mate the " tercel," and he was flown at the smaller game,, 

 such as partridges and magpies. The peregrine falcon is often seen in the 

 wild moors of Scotland, for here he finds plenty of grouse and partridges and 



