230 EEMIXISCEXCES OF A SPORTSMAN. 



the inside, great full-black eyes, a large breast, her head 

 plumed dark or black, with a white wreath. In her 

 flight she is known from another hawk by her quick and 

 nimble getting up to her place, by her strong stirring, 

 and by her skill in her stooping and killing her game. 

 She is very bold and hardy, of great strength and courage 

 to endure both wind and weather, gaining her prey by 

 main wing, and into what place she cometh she is victor. 

 By nature she is very hot, and consequently better able 

 to endure cold weather — witness her high soaring in the 

 air; and likewise, when once she begins to cast her 

 feathers, she meweth with more expedition. Her greatest 

 fault is, she is more difficult to be reclaimed than any 

 other hawk. From this bird the faulconer is said to 

 derive his name, as well as the art itself ; for that it 

 seems the chief end of a faulconer, and the art of 

 faitlconry, is to reclaim and man the faulcon, for she 

 fleeth at all game, both at field and river, but most 

 proper the river ; so that he that thoroughly understands 

 how to bring this faulcon to that perfection that she is 

 capable of, may well deserve the name of a master of 

 this art. This hawk is a great pains-taker, no weather 

 discouraging her from the game, if possible to be found ; 

 and although she hath laboured two or three days together 

 in ill weather, yet she will not be tired; and indeed 

 every hawk requireth exercise. But old staunch hawks 

 should have more rest." 



ImjDortations of the slight falcon are annually made 

 from the open grounds around Falconsward for the use 

 of British falconers in flying herons, in lieu of the 

 ger-falcon, which is more expensive and difficult to 

 obtain. 



Hawks are divided into two classes, viz. the lonsf 



