298 REMIXISCEXCES OF A SPOETSMAX. 



At first he was obliged to treat it as above described, 

 and tying down the food ; but at length it became so 

 tame as to follow him on the wing to the distance of 

 some miles ; to come into the house when called ; and 

 to take food from the hand." 



In the reign of Henry VIII. herons were imported 

 for the amusement of hawking with them ; and some 

 idea may be formed of the value of these birds at that 

 period by the importation duty, which was 13s. 8d. on 

 each heron, no trifling sum in those days. 



Kite Hawking. 



The fork-tailed kites have been long flown by fal- 

 coners. In the course of the last half century Lord 

 Orford, Colonel Thornton, and others, have practised it. 

 Lord Orford, particularly, pursued it in the neighbour- 

 hood of Alconbury Hills, which, being a champagne 

 country, abounded with kites. To the leg of the great 

 owl, when it could be procured, or in default of that to 

 the leg of the common white owl, was apj)ended the 

 brush of a fox : thus dressed, the owl was thrown up 

 within view of a kite, who, so lured, descended to its 

 destruction, for it was itself immediately attacked by 

 the falcon in waiting, and quickly raked. For this 

 sport the ger-folcon was preferred, her size and strength 

 making her the ablest antagonist for such a quarry. 



Blome gives the following description of kite hawk- 

 ing :— The day being warm and clear, you will soon see 

 a kyte cooling herself in the air ; then let your owl fly, 

 and the kyte will not fail to make near her to gaze upon 

 her, and when the kyte is ascended pretty nenr let fly 

 your hawk, and the kyte perceiving the surprise, doth 

 endeavour to preserve herself by mounting up and 



