402 FAMILY FALCONID^E ; JER FALCON, &C. 



when the Falcon darts downwards, it runs the risk of being 

 impaled upon this formidable weapon. The difficulty which 

 the Falcon has in mastering the Heron, made the hawking of 

 that Bird a very choice, and even a royal sport ; and in the 

 days when Falcons were domesticated for this purpose, Herons 

 also were preserved, as other kinds of game are now. 



367. There are numerous other species of Falcon, of which 

 the Jer Falcon is the largest. Of this fine Bird, the male 

 measures about 22 inches in length, and about four feet across 

 the extended wings ; and the female is larger. In several points 

 of its structure and habits, it resembles the Eagles. It is a 

 native of the extreme north of Europe, and of some parts of 

 Asia ; and Iceland appears to be its head-quarters. It is some- 

 times seen on the coast of North Britain ; but it is not certainly 

 known to breed there. The Hobby, Lanner, and Merlin, are 

 smaller than the Peregrine Falcon ; and the last is particularly 

 distinguished by its elegance of form and plumage, its swiftness 

 on the wing, its courage in attack, and its easy domesticability ; 

 qualities which, in the days of Falconry, gained it especial 

 repute as a lady's hawk. The Kestrel is another Falcon, having 

 somewhat the habits of a Kite ; it chiefly preys on Field-mice, 

 which it discerns whilst hovering stationary at a moderate 

 height, with the head turned against the wind. 



368. The true Falcons were formerly designated as noble 

 Birds of Prey, on account of their use in the noble sport of 

 Falconry ; the remainder of the family, consisting of Birds which 

 cannot be trained to such employments, received the name of 

 ignoble Birds. The Ignoble Birds of Prey are distinguished 

 from the Falcon tribe by the form of their wings and bill. 

 Their longest quill-feather is always the fourth, the first being 

 very short ; so that the wing looks as if its tip had been 

 obliquely cut off. Hence their powers of flight are inferior. 

 Their beak, again, is not so well armed ; for instead of having a 

 sharp tooth near its point on either side, there is only a wavy 

 edge, or festoon about the middle of its length. The bill is 

 generally longer, also, and consequently less powerful ; and 

 instead of being curved from its commencement, as in the 



