SHRIKES. 119 



hawke," immediately succeeded by " the Mata- 

 gesse ;" and at the end of " A generall division of 

 Hawkes and Birdes of Prey, after the opinion 

 of one Francesco Sforzino Vycentino, an Italian 

 gentleman-falconer," there is the following ac- 

 count " Of the Matagasse :" 



" Though the Matagasse bee a Hawke of none 

 Account or Price, neyther with us in any Use ; 

 yet neverthelesse, for that in my Division I made 

 Recitall of her Name, according .to the French 

 Author, from whence I collected sundries of these 

 Points and Documents appertaining to Falconrie, 

 I think it not beside my purpose briefly to de- 

 scribe herre unto you, though I must needs con- 

 fesse, that where the Hawke is of so slender 

 Value, the Definition, or rather Description of 

 her Nature and Name, must be thought of no 

 great Regard." 



After the description the author goes on to 

 say, " Her feeding is upon Rattes, Squirrells, 

 and Lisards, and sometime upon certaine Birdes 

 she doth -Use to prey, whome she doth intrappe 

 and deceive by flight, for this is her Devise. She 

 will stand at pearch upon some Tree or Poste, 

 and there make an exceedyng lamentable Crye 

 and Exclamation, such as Birdes are wonte to 

 doe being wronged, or in Hazard of Mischiefe, 

 and all to make other Fowles believe and think 

 that she is very much distressed, and standes 

 needefull of Ayde, whereupon the credulous 

 sellie Birdes do flocke together presently at her 

 Call and Voice, at which Time, if any happen to 

 approache near her, she out of Hand ceazeth on 

 them, and devoureth them (ungratefull, subtill 

 Fowle !) in Requitall of their Simplicity and 



