108 



olden time of falconry it does not appear to have 

 been more abundant ; they were then sought for 

 abroad, and very high prices were paid for them. 

 The range of the Jer-Falcon seems to be the more 

 northern districts of Europe and America. Iceland 

 was and is one of its most famed strongholds the 

 capital, so far as the sporting world was concerned 

 and furnished at a large amount the sorts which 

 were in most esteem in the countries where this 

 ancient sport was pursued.* It spreads also along 

 the precipitous coasts of Norway and Sweden, 



* Mr Gould states in his " Birds of Europe" that the 

 falconers who visit this country with their trained falcons 

 for sale, all agree in declaring, that the Jer-falcon, which 

 they obtain in Norway, is a different bird from that which 

 they consider the true falcon of Iceland. It differs in 

 the length of the wings compared with that of the tail. 

 Those from Iceland are most rare. 



The sport of falconry has been long in almost com- 

 plete disuse, but may be said to be now commencing its 

 revival. Several gentlemen at present possess regular 

 hawking establishments. As a royal appointment it is still 

 kept up, and the accompanying extract will shew that it 

 is not merely nominal : 



*' Friday being the return of the Duchess of St Albans* 

 natal day, it was intended to devote the morning to a 

 hawking party, but the weather was so stormy that the 

 display of falconry was obliged to be postponed till Mon- 

 day. At noon on that day, the Grand Fauconnier repaired 

 to the Downs, about two miles this side the Dyke, near 

 the old Henfield-road, with his matchless hawks. Eight 

 flights were made, and each time they killed their bird, 

 with a single exception, when the pigeon being struck 

 rery hard it towered so high that the falcon could not 



