94 THE FEATHERED TRIBES. 



yards from where it was seized, to kill it or devour it on the spot." Ducks, which 

 have iJeen struck down by it, have been observed to have their backs lacerated the whole 

 length by the l)Iow of its talons. The appearance of this hawk strikes imiversal panic 

 among the hordes of water-fowl ; all are eager to escape their dreaded foe ; " all speed 

 to the water, and there remain till the hawk has passed them, di\'iug the moment he 

 comes near them. It is worthy of remark, that he will seldom, if ever, strike over the 

 water, unless it be frozen, well knowing that it will be difficult to secure his tjuarry." 

 Audubon states that he has seen this bird " come at the report of a gun, and carry off 

 a teal, not thirty steps distant from the sportsman who has lolled it, with a daring assur- 

 ance as surprismg as unexpected ; " and that this conduct is a notorious characteristic of 

 the species. 



The naturalist, already twice referred to, gives us the following fact. " Two years ago 

 I brought a young peregi-ine falcon down from near the som-ce of the Findhorn, where I 

 found her in the possession of a shepherd's boy, who fed her wholly on trout. For the 

 first year the bird was of a dark brown colour above, with longitudinal spots on the 

 feathers of her breast. On changing her plumage, during the second autumn of her 

 existence, she became of a most beautifid dark slate colour above, and the spots on her 

 breast turned into cross-bars, every feather being barred with black ; her throat became 

 of a beautiful cream colour. With great strength, she is possessed of the most deter- 

 mined courage, and will attack any person or dog whom she takes a dislike to. Her 

 poultry-kilhng propensities oblige me to keep her chained in the kitchen-garden, where no 

 other bird, except a tame owl, resides. The owl she appears to tolerate with great good- 

 nature, and even allows him to carry off any remains of pigeon or crow that she leaves 

 after she has satisfied her hunger. One day an unfortunate duck strayed within reach 

 of her chain, and was immediately pounced on and devoured, leaving a numerous family 

 of ducklings to mourn her loss." 



In different stages of its growth, the peregrine falcon has been known by various 

 English names. The falconers call it the slight falcon, the term falcon gentle being 

 equally applicable to all the species when rendered manageable. The young bird of the 

 year is called an Eyess, from the French tiiais, most of the tenns in falconry having 

 been adopted from the French. In the immature state this falcon is also called a red 

 hawk, from the prevailmg colour of its plumage. When full-grown and in a wild state, 

 it is called a haggard or passage falcon. The male is called a tiercel or tersel, to dis- 

 tinguish it from the female, wliich, among birds of prey, is most commonly one-third larger 

 than the male. 



There seems to have been a passion for hawking among all the nations that owned a 

 Scandinavian origin, and perhaps none exceeded om* forefathers hi its intensity. A kuig 

 of Kent begged from a prince abroad two falcons of " such skill and courage as to attack 

 cranes willingly, and scizmg them, throw them on the ground." Birds of no httle 

 vigour would thus be rc(|uired ; and the king, it appears, made the request " because 

 there were few hawks of that kind in Kent." They would, therefore, be of no incon- 

 siderable value. There are instances, too, of Saxons leaving hawks to their friends by 

 will ; and one of the kings of the Heptarchy bestowed special favours on those who 

 " carried with them hawks or falcons." 



In the court of the king of Wales there were only three officers of his household 

 above the master of the hawks. This ])erson occujiit'd the foin-th place from the sove- 

 reign at the royal table, but he was prohibited from drinking more than throe times, lest 

 he should become intoxicated, and, in consequence, neglect his birds. Not only had he 



