RAPTORES. 287 



days of Charles II. Indeed, a person of rank in England would 

 at one period of her history scarcely be seen out of doors unless 

 he had upon his hand a hawking bird. This in old illuminations 

 and ancient seals is the criterion of nobility. At the present day 

 hawking is still practised in some Oriental countries. 



So bold is the Falcon, it was generally employed to take the 

 formidable Heron. When used anciently for hawking, the fal- 

 cons were taken into the field with hoods over their eyes, and 

 with little bells on their legs; the sportsman carried a lure to 

 which the bird had been trained to fly by being fed regularly 

 upon or near it with fresh killed meat. When the falcon closed 

 with its prey, they both came to the ground together, and it was 

 the sportsman's business to reach the place of conflict as soon as 

 possible, and assist the falcon in vanquishing its prey. 



This bird constructs its nest on ledges of rocks, laying four 

 eggs of a reddish brown color. 



The GYRFALCON, or JERFALCON, F. gyrfalcon. The name Jer- 

 falcon is a corruption of Hierofakon, Sacred Falcon. This bird 

 is by some regarded as the boldest and most beautiful of the tribe, 

 approaching in size nearly to the Osprey. It is a native of Ice- 

 land. In the days of falconry, the Jerfalcon was highly esteemed, 

 and used for the larger game, such as cranes and herons. Its 

 plumage is white with dusky lines. 



"^The MERLIN or STONE FALCON, .F. cesalon, (Gr. aisalon,) is 

 the smallest of the European species, being not much larger than 

 a black-bird ; in olden times it was considered as the " lady- 

 bird," and used for taking partridges, which it would kill by a 

 single stroke of the neck. It is not uncommon both in Europe 

 and America, and is a migratory bird. 



The KESTRAL, or WINDHOVER, F. tinnunculus, (Lat. akestral,) 

 inhabits Asia and Africa, as well as Europe. Its length is from 

 fourteen to fifteen inches. Farmers often mistake it for the Spar- 

 row-Hawk, and take every opportunity to destroy it ; but as its 

 natural food is field-mice, they ought to look upon it as a bene- 

 factor, and protect, instead of remorselessly killing it. Its nest 

 is usually built in some deserted one of a crow or magpie. 



FIFTH SUB-FAMILY. HAWKS. 

 Accipitrina. (Lat. accipiter, a hawk.) 



The Hawks have short beaks, hooked from the base; and 

 short wings, reaching no farther than two-thirds of the extent 

 of the tail. The upper mandible has & festoon, or prominence 

 in place of the notches of the true Falcons. 



