T2 A HISTORY OF 



-divvtfjion, but for its procuring delicacies for the table that could sel- 

 dom be obtained any other way. 



Of many of the ancient falcons used for this purpose, we at this 

 time know only the names, as the exact species are so ill described, 

 that one may be very easily mistaken for another. Of those in use, 

 at present, both here and in other countries, are the gyr-falcon, the 

 falcon, the lanner, the sacre, the hobby, the kestril, and the merlin 

 These are called the long-winged hawks, to distinguish them from the 

 goss-hawk, the sparrow-hawk, the kite, and the bustard, that are of 

 a shorter wing, and either too slow, too cowardly, too indolent, or too 

 obstinate, to be serviceable in contributing to the pleasures of the field. 



The generous tribe of hawks, as was said, are distinguished from 

 ihe rest by the peculiar length of their wings, which reach nearly as 

 (ow as the tail. In these, the first quill of the wing is nearly as long 

 as the second ; it terminates in a point, which begins to diminish from 

 about an inch of its extremity. This sufficiently distinguishes the ge- 

 nerous breed from that of the baser race of kiles, sparrow-hawks, and 

 buzzards, in whom the tail is longer than the wings, and the first fea- 

 ther of the wing is rounded at the extremity. They differ also in the 

 latter having the fourth feather of the wing the longest ; in the gene- 

 rous race it is always the second. 



The generous race, which have been taken into the service of man, 

 are endowed with natural powers that the other kinds are not possess- 

 ed of. From the length of their wings, they are swifter to pursue 

 their game ; from a confidence in this swiftness, they are bolder to 

 attack it ; and, from an innate generosity, they have an attachment to 

 their feeder, and consequently a docility which the baser birds are 

 strangers to. 



The gyr-falcon leads in this bold train. He exceeds all other fal- 

 cons in the largeness of his size, for he approaches nearly to the mag 

 nitude of the eagle. The top of the head is flat, and of an ash-colour, 

 with a strong, thick, short and blue beak. The feathers of the back 

 and wings are marked with blue spots, in the shape of a heart; he is 

 a courageous and fierce bird, nor fears even the eagle himself; but he 

 chiefly flies. at the stork, the heron, and the crane. He is mostly found 

 in the colder regions of the north, but loses neither his strength nor 

 his courage when brought into the milder climates. 



The falcon, properly so called, is the second in magnitude and 

 fame. There are some varieties in this bird ; there seem to be only 

 two that claim distinction the falcon-gentil and the peregrine-falcon ; 

 both are much less than the gyr, and somewhat about the size of a 

 raven. They differ but slightlv, and perhaps only from the different 

 states they were in when brought into captivity. Those differences 

 are easier known by experience than taught by description. The 

 falcon-gentil moults in March, and often sooner : the peregrine-falcon 

 does not moult till the middle of August. The peregrine is stronger 

 in the shoulder, has a laiger eye, and yet more sunk in the head ; his 

 beak is stronger, his legs longer, and the toes better divided. 



Next in size to these is the lanner, a bird now very little known in 

 Lurope ; then follows the sacre, the legs of which are of a bluish co- 

 lour, and serve to distinguish that bird ; to them succeeds the hobby. 



