154 EXTRACTS FROM NOTE-BOOKS. CH. XXX. 



a long time and with great care for the purpose of 

 hunting, is just as likely to swoop at and kill his 

 master's dogs, or even to attack a man himself, as to 

 fly at any game. In this he differs from the falcons, 

 that is those of the hawk tribe, who are called 

 "noble falcons," in contradistinction to those termed 

 " ignoble." The Iceland, the Greenland, the pere- 

 grine, and the merlin also, are all " noble falcons." 

 The latter, formerly in high repute for the chase, 

 is now so seldom seen in this country, either 

 alive or dead, that little is known as to his merits ; 

 but the other noble hawks whom I have enume- 

 rated are all of a most kindly and tractable dispo- 

 sition, and possess that great courage which gives 

 them the full confidence in man which is necessary 

 for their education. These birds have also great 

 aptitude to receive instruction ; their habits are 

 social, and before they have been long in confine- 

 ment they become perfectly contented with their 

 lot. When out in the field, a trained hawk is in 

 no way flurried or alarmed by the movement of 

 men or dogs, but sits looking, when unhooded, with 

 calm confidence on all that is going on around him ; 

 and although his fine dark eye evinces neither fear 

 nor disquietude, not the smallest bird can pass 

 without his immediately descrying it, and intently 

 watching it until it is lost in the distance — and great 



