VII.— BIRDS OF BEAK AND TALON. 



" I know a falcon swift and peerless 

 As e'er was cradled in the pine; 

 Xo bird had ever eye so fearless, 

 Or wing so strong as this of mine. 



—Lowell. 



There is a common interest manifested in the manners 

 and movements of the birds of prey. While many of the 

 smaller birds discover qualities which win our friendship 

 and love, we are impelled to respect the evidences of 

 strength and the boldness of character of the larger 

 birds, whose activity and prowess enable them to 

 procure a living in part by the destruction of weaker 

 beings. Few persons can restrain themselves from stop- 

 ping to watch one of the larger so-called hawks soaring 

 overhead on moveless, expanded pinions, and any of the 

 larger Kaptores wandering into our range of vision is 

 certain to attract interested notice. In the days of chiv- 

 alry, our noble ancestors admired the courage and daring 

 of these birds, and the hawks and falcons were reckoned 

 worthy to be the companions of the noblest lords and 

 ladies; hence, we are only revealing hereditary traits 

 when we follow the movements of the falcon dashing 

 with unerring swiftness upon the terror-stricken quarry. 

 Though the practice of falconry passed away with other 

 less noble customs of chivalrj", we still admire the traits 

 which made the falcon prized in earlier days. However, 

 limited knowledge of the actual habits of these birds in 

 modern times has infused a degree of popular prejudice 

 against them. The sportsman thinks of the game on 

 which they are reputed to prey, and hence he seldom 

 loses an opportunity to destroy any of the rapacious birds 

 which enter the range of his gun. These birds are well 



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