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sport, to a period anterior to the Christian era. In Britain it 

 seems to have been followed before the time of the Heptarchy ; 

 and in the celebrated Bayeux tapestry Harold is figured with 

 a hawk on his hand. In England, after the Norman Con- 

 quest, it made great strides, being much indulged in by kings, 

 nobles, and ladies. In the present day an attempt is being 

 made in several quarters to revive the noble art, and we are 

 informed that in Scotland the Marquess of Bute is taking a 

 strong liking to the sport, being out often with Mr. Ewen, 

 and is now on the look-out for a good falconer. Having 

 received an invitation from Mr. Ewen to have a day's hawk- 

 ing with him, we drove about ten miles out of Ayr, to the 

 high land, where there is a fine open country, as when it is 

 enclosed it does not do for this sport, the birds taking refuge 

 in the fences, thus spoiling the " swoop." Here we met Peter 

 with the hawks. Peter is quite a character — very keen — and 

 Mr. E. tells us he considers him the best falconer he has ever 

 seen. He was falconer to the Duke of Leeds before he came 

 to Mr. Ewen. The peregrine falcon is the one Mr. E. flies, of 

 which he has six, well trained by old Peter, one four-year-old, 

 three two-year-old, and two yearlings. The falconer carries 

 the hawk he is going to fly on his wrist, hooded, and a small 

 strap between his fingers called the "jesses," while a boy goes 

 behind with the cadge, a frame of wood, with four legs, 

 strapped over his shoulders, carrying the rest of the hawks, 

 all of which have small bells tied round their arms, with a 

 small piece of leather called the hewitt. Mr. E. hawks grouse 

 and partridges. In olden times the heron was the chief 

 object of pursuit, but in these days the scarcity of these 

 birds does not give the falconer any opportunity of training 

 his birds to them. A couple of steady pointers or setters are 

 generally taken out to find the game, and great care is taken 

 not to fly the falcon unless the dogs are quite sure, as when 

 the falcon is disappointed, he is apt to go after other " quarry," 

 and is difficult to lure. But now, Mr. E.'s celebrated red 

 setter is standing, well backed by his black pointer. Peter 

 cautiously goes round, generally up-wind, unhoods the falcon 



