1 2 Bird-keeping. 



are taken from the nest, they are kept in darkness and 

 without food for several days, and are then fed by the 

 falconer, and taught to know his voice and leap on his 

 hand when called ; then they are exercised in flying 

 at a pigeon tied by a string, and caressed and fed if 

 they bring it to the falconer, but punished if they tear 

 it to pieces when killed. The greatest regularity is 

 necessary in feeding the Falcons, or it is said that they 

 will never acquire their full development of colour or 

 size. They are fond of raw beef ; but it is necessary 

 always to give them some feathers or fur with their 

 food, which they will throw up in the form of castings, 

 or oblong balls consisting of feathers, hair, or bones 

 forcibly compressed together. Falcons, Hawks, and 

 other birds of prey have this faculty, and it is observed 

 also in Shrikes, Swallows, and insectivorous birds feed- 

 ing on insects with hard and indigestible wing-cases. 

 A lady in Ireland found a pair of MOOR BUZZARDS 

 or MARSH HARRIERS (Circus ceruginosus), taken by 

 some peasant boys from a nest helpless white puff- 

 balls, not strong enough to stand on their long legs. 

 They were very sickly and wretched, having nothing 

 to eat but mashed potatoes ; so she very compassion- 

 ately took them home, and put them into a large cage 

 upon some straw and heather, and superintended their 

 feeding, which must have been a most unpleasant 

 operation to witness : they had liver, and mutton, and 

 rabbits, and mice, and feathers and fur always had to 



