130 PEREGRINE FALCON. 



" In the air my noble generous Falcon ascends to such a 

 height, as the dull eyes of beasts and fish are not able to reach to : 

 their bodies are too gross for such high elevation ; but from which 

 height I can make her descend by a word from my mouth, which 

 she both knows and obeys, to accept of meat from my hand, to own 

 me for her master, to go home with me, and be willing the next 

 day to afford me the like recreation." — Isaac Walton. 



My princess of the cloud, my plumed purveyor, 



My far-eyed queen of the winds— thou that canst soar 



Beyond the morning Lark, and howsoe'er 



Thy quarry wind and wheel, swoop down upon him 



Eagle-like, lightning-like — strike, make his feathers 



Glance in the mid-heaven. 



TENNYSON~I%e Falcon. 



I mark the Falcons wing their airy way. 



And soar to seize, and stooping, strike their prey. 



Parnel— jFc^ue. 



The Falcon is usually flown at Herons or Rooks ; and the 

 Tiercel at Partridges, Magpies, or such smaller birds as may be 

 conveniently met with in default of better, to give sport when 

 required. 



And pastime both of Hawk and hound, and all 

 That appertains to noble maintenance, 



Tennyson— £'ni(^. 



The Falcon poised on soaring wing, 

 Watching the Wild-duck by the spring. 



Scott — Lady of the Lake. 



And again- 



Like Wild-ducks couching in the fen, 

 When stoops the Hawk upon the glen. 



The quarry, whatever it may be, will always take down wind, 

 the more easily to escape from the Hawk, and this habit gives the 

 explanation no less ingenious than simple of the often quoted 

 passage of Shakespeare : — 



" I am but mad north-north-west ; when the wind is southerly, 

 I know a Hawk from a Handsaw " (Ernsaw, or Heronshaw). 



Hamlet II., 2. 



Hawking was a morning sport, and with the wind north-north- 

 west, the sun would be in the eyes of anyone watching the birds, 



