14> FALCONID^. 



would hover almost motionless, as if watching the proper 

 moment to close their pinions, and when that arrived, 

 they would descend almost perpendicularly on their un- 

 suspecting victims. Their cries resembled those of the 

 Peregrine Falcon, being loud, shrill, and piercing. Now 

 and then they would alight on some of the high stakes 

 placed on the shore as beacons to the hshermen who visit 

 the coast, and stand for a few minutes, not erect, as most 

 other Hawks, but in the position of a Tern, after which 

 they would resume their avocations, and pounce upon a 

 Puffin, which they generally did while the poor bird was 

 standing on the ground at the very entrance of its burrow, 

 apparently quite unaware of the apj)roach of its powerful 

 enemy. The Puffin appeared to form no impediment to 

 the flight of the Hawk, which m.erely shook itself after 

 rising in the air, as if to arrange its plumage, as the Fish 

 Hawk does when it has emerged from the water with a 

 fish in its talons." 



Though wild and courageous in its native state, it is 

 easily trained for the chase, or " reclaimed," as the process 

 is termed, when it becomes docile and obedient. It is 

 said also to display great affection to its master, and to 

 become distressed whenever it changes owners. 



The sport of hawking is of ancient date. It was prac- 

 tised in our own country at a very early period, and was 

 adopted by the Eomans after the conquest of Britain, the 

 species employed being probably the Peregrine Falcon. 

 In the East, the Gyr Falcon was taught to fly at Ante- 

 lopes, Bustards, Cranes, &c. ; in this country at Herons, 

 Swans, Geese, and, when they were to be met with, at 

 Storks and Cranes. 



The Gyr Falcon builds its nest of sticks, sea-weed, and 

 mosses, placing it on a lofty precipice, and lays three eggs. 



