96 HISTORY OF 



CHAPTER XIJ. 



OF THE FALCON KIND, AND ITS AFFINITIES. 



EVERY creature becomes more important in the 

 history of nature in proportion as it is connected 

 with man. In this view, the smallest vegetable, 

 or the most seemingly contemptible insect, is a 

 subject more deserving attention, than the most 

 flourishing tree or the most beautiful of the fea- 

 thered creation. In this view, the Falcon is a 

 more important animal than the eagle or the vul- 

 ture ; and though so very diminutive in the com- 

 parison, is, notwithstanding, from its connexion 

 with our pleasures, a much more interesting ob- 

 ject of curiosity. 



The amusement of hawking, indeed, is now 

 pretty much given over in this kingdom j for, as 

 every country refines, as its enclosures become 

 higher and closer, those rural sports must conse- 

 quently decline, in which the game is to be pur- 

 sued over a long extent of country, and where, 

 while every thing retards the pursuer below, 

 nothing can stop the object of his pursuit above. 



Falconry, that Is now so much disused among 

 us, was the principal amusement of our ancestors. 

 A person of rank scarcely stirred out without his 

 hawk on his hand, which in old paintings is the 

 criterion of nobility. Harold, afterwards king of 

 England, when he went on a most important em- 

 bassy into Normandy, is drawn in an old bas- 



