198 THE FALCON. 



ment by which many delicacies were obtained. So 

 many were- the falcons which were anciently used for 

 this purpose, that we shall merely think it necessary to 

 insert their names, and close their history by a descrip- 

 tion of the method the falconer adopted to make them 

 obedient to his will. 



The g}T-faleon, the falcon, the lanner, the* sacre, the 

 hobby, the kestril, and the merlin, are considered as 

 the most generous or useful of the tribe, and may be 

 distinguished from the goss-hawk, the sparrow-hawk, 

 the kite, and the buzzard, by the peculiar length of the 

 feathers upon their wings ; from which circumstance 

 they are enabled to fly with more velocity and strength ; 

 their disposition is more docile, and they are more ea- 

 sily attached. The gyr-falcon is nearly as large as an 

 eagle ; and the top of its head is perfectly flat ; the beak 

 is extremely strong and thick, and the colour of it is a 

 dark blue : the feathers are of a pale ash, marked on 

 the back and wings with spots of black, in shape re- 

 sembling a small heart : it is a remarkable bold, cou- 

 rageous bird, and would not fear attacking the eagle 

 himself. The rest of the species diminish in size until 

 we come to the merlin, which is not much larger than 

 a thrush, yet his courage and intrepidity renders him 

 formidable to birds which are nearly ten times as 

 large as himself. 



In order to train up a falcon to the pursuit of game, 

 it is necessary to possess both perseverance and skill ; 

 and the first method the falconer adopts is to bind jesses 

 or straps round the creature's legs, to which there is 

 fastened a ring and some small bells, on the former of 

 which is engraven the owner's name. If he appears 

 stubborn, or attempts to bite, his head is plunged into 

 cold water, and he is deprived of food, and not suf- 



1 



