220 REMINISCENCES OF A SPORTSMAN. 



use a dog also, in order to prevent the hare from squat- 

 ting. The general training is the same as the peregrine 

 requires, and nothing but experience will teach the 

 falconer the best mode to accomplish this. As they are 

 natives of a very cold climate, they should not be ex- 

 posed to the full heat of the sun. It is stated in Bufifon 

 that the falcons carried from the north of Eussia as far 

 to the south as Persia do not lose any of their vigour or 

 strength. 



At the present time one cannot help feehng com- 

 miseration for the poor falcons, at least in this kingdom. 

 " How are the mighty fallen." Three or four centuries 

 ago the peregrines and other hawks were the constant 

 companions and pets of emperors, kings, princes, and 

 nobles; and even the noblest of the fair sex were de- 

 lighted to carry the merlins or sparrow-hawk on their 

 hand. Now these birds, which in former times were with 

 the eagle classed as the kings of birds, are in general 

 looked upon as the destructive enemies of game ; and 

 those men who have the preservation of it wage an un- 

 relenting war with gun and trap against the falcons, 

 which in past ages afforded to our ancestors such manly 

 and enjoyable field sport ; and it may be truly said that 

 to have your hawk well trained to the different species 

 of quarry at which they were flo\vn required much pa- 

 tience and perseverance, great activity of body in the 

 field, and contributed by the healthy exercise in the 

 open air to give health and vigom-. 



In the w^ork on falconry I have already quoted, 

 written in the sixteenth century by Mons. Charles 

 d'Arcussia, dedicated to Henri IV., he thus expresses 

 himself on the noble and amiable qualities of the falcon. 

 " As kings and princes," as he flatteringly observes, " are 



