100 HISTORY OF 



Next in size to these is the lanner, a bird now 

 very little known in Europe ; then follows the 

 sacre, the legs of which are of a bluish colour, 

 and serve to distinguish that bird ; to them suc- 

 ceeds the hobby, used for smaller game, for 

 daring larks, and stooping at quails. The kestril 

 was trained for the same purposes ; and lastly, 

 the merlin, which, though the smallest of all 

 the hawk or falcon kind, and not much larger 

 than a thrush, yet displays a degree of courage 

 that renders him formidable, even to birds ten 

 times his size. He has often been known to kill a 

 partridge or a quail at a single pounce from above. 



Some of the other species of sluggish birds 

 were now and then trained to this sport, but it 

 was when no better could be obtained ; but these 

 just described were only considered as birds of 

 the nobler races. Their courage in general was 

 such, that no bird, not very much above their 

 own size, could terrify them ; their swiftness so 

 great, that scarcely any bird could escape them ; 

 and their docility so remarkable, that they obey- 

 ed not only the commands but the signs of their 

 master. They remained quietly perched upon his 

 hand till their game was flushed, or else kept 

 hovering round his head, without ever leaving 

 him but when he gave permission. The com- 

 mon falcon is a bird of such spirit, that, like a 

 conqueror in a country, he keeps all birds in awe 

 and in subjection to his prowess. When he is 

 seen flying wild, as I often had an opportunity of 

 observing, the birds of every kind, that seemed 

 entirely to disregard the kite or the sparrow- 



