522 



XA TURA L HIS TOR Y. 



belonged to King James the First of England. Its eyes had lost their 

 youthful lustre ; and the feathers about its neck were white with age ; 

 and yet it appeared lively — very lively for a bird of a hundred and eight} r 

 odd years. 



Before giving an account of falconry we must call the attention to the 

 very curious bird, the caracara, or carrancha, depicted in the cut. It is an 

 eagle or hawk, of uncertain position, but possibly should be placed nearest 





^<?i^c. 



Fig. 432. — Caracara eagle (Polyborus tharos). 



the falcons. It ranges from our southwestern states south over Mexico, 

 Central America, and Brazil. In its structure it is near the falcons ; in 

 habits it is a vulture, gathering in numbers like the turkey-buzzards about 

 any carrion. 



The peregrine and the gyrfalcon were the principal birds used in 

 falconry ; and these were restricted to the nobility and the king. The 

 common people, if they wished to indulge in the sport, could only fly the 

 kestrel or the sparrow-hawk. 



