306 FALCO PEREGRINUS. 



purpose, and among the most esteemed was the Peregrine Fal- 

 con, which being easily procured, remarkable for docility, and 

 by its expertness in the art of destruction well qualified to af- 

 ford amusement, not to barons bold only, but to gentle dames, 

 was the kind commonly employed. The female, or Falcon pro- 

 perly so called, was flown at Herons, Geese, Ducks, and in 

 general the larger sorts of birds, while to the male, who, from 

 being about a third smaller, was called the Tiercel or Tiercelet, 

 were allotted partridges and other small game. When old the 

 bird was a Hagard, when well trained and handsome a Gentle 

 Falcon (bien fait, bien dresse, d'une jolie figure), when in its 

 first plumage a Red Falcon. Many other names were em- 

 ployed, which, having been taken up by the ornithologists, 

 gave rise to much misconception ; although of late years the 

 intricacies resulting from the errors of describers have been 

 unravelled, and the Peregrine Falcon in all its stages is now 

 simply the Peregrine Falcon. It is from this species that the 

 art of Falconry derives its name, although it appears that two 

 others, superior in size, and at least equal in courage and 

 strength, were employed, namely, the Iceland or Gyr Falcon, 

 also named the White Falcon, and the Lanner. " The Fal- 

 con," says BuiFon, " is perhaps the most courageous of all 

 birds in proportion to its size ; it throws itself directly and per- 

 pendicularly upon its prey, whereas the Goshawk and most 

 other birds of prey come laterally upon it ; it falls like a shot 

 upon its victim, kills it, eats it on the spot if it be large, or, if 

 it be not too heavy, carries it off rising perpendicularly. It is 

 seen all of a sudden pouncing upon its prey, as if it fell from 

 the clouds, for it comes from such a height, and in so short 

 a time, that its appearance is always unforeseen, and often un- 

 expected. It is frequently seen to attack the Kite, but it treats 

 him as a coward, chases him, strikes him with disdain, and 

 does not put him to death." Although the eloquent Count 

 is not always to be trusted, such, according to other authors, is 

 the style of hunting of the Falcon, which in pursuing its prey 

 advances directly towards it, keeping above its level, and sud- 

 denly closing its wings, dashing down upon it, and either clutch- 

 ing it and bearing it away, or driving it to the ground, or in the 



