34 FALCONING. 



worn merely become ragged at the ends, and do not 

 lose their edges in a regular manner. The colours 

 fade considerably by long exposure to the weather, but 

 no very remarkable changes are produced. 



Most of these birds may be partially tamed, and se- 

 veral species were formerly trained for hunting, espe- 

 cially those of the falcon and hawk genera. They 

 thrive well in captivity, and live to a great age. Even 

 the eagles are quite patient of subjection, although there 

 is a rhyme which states, that although 



' ' The captive thrush may brook its cage, 

 The prison'd eagle dies for rage. ' 



Some species, as the kestrel and sparrow hawk, are 

 generally distributed over the island, while others, as 

 the eagles, are confined to particular districts. None 

 of the species are very plentiful, and some are extreme- 

 ly rare, while a few can be considered only as occa- 

 sional visitants. These birds would doubtless be much 

 more numerous, were it not for the care bestowed on 

 the preservation of game, which causes great destruc- 

 tion among them. Indeed it is somewhat wonderful 

 that so many remain in the land, seeing the perpetual 

 war that is waged against them by shepherds, farmers, 

 gamekeepers, and others. But as all the species are 

 shy, and many of them nestle and perch in inaccessible 

 or unfrequented places, there is little chance of even 

 the golden eagle or the peregrine falcon being totally 

 extirpated. 



Our eighteen species may be disposed into half as 

 many genera. One might naturally object to this ar- 

 rangement, supposing that a smaller number of genera 



