124 THE HAWK TRIBE. 



may form some idea from the attention paid by the king 

 of Denmark, in procuring and preserving certain Falcons 

 which were in the highest estimation, from the island of 

 Iceland, and were then, and still are, known by the name 

 of the Iceland Falcon (Falco icelandicus, Falco gyrfalco). 

 Next to the Eagle, it was reputed the most formidable and 

 active, as well as the most prompt and intrepid of our birds 

 of prey. 



In the winter, whole flights of these birds come over from 

 Greenland and the Arctic regions, where they probably breed 

 and pass the summer, as Captain Sir Edward Parry saw them 

 frequently in his last voyage. These Icelandic Falcons were 

 always considered the best for sport, lasting ten or twelve 

 years ; whereas, those from Norway, not above two or three 

 years ; they are also superior in size, and gifted with extra- 

 ordinary qualities. So much were they indeed prized, that 

 an ancient Danish law inflicted the punishment of death on 

 any person found guilty of destroying them ; and those 

 engaged in taking them were bound, under heavy penalties, to 

 deliver them to no other person whatever but the king's own 

 falconer ; and even so late as 1758, the spirit of the law was 

 not much changed, judging from the following account of a 

 writer on Icelandic history. He tells us that the king of 

 Denmark sends every year a falconer, with two attendants. 

 On landing, they repair to a house called the king's falcon- 

 house, for the purpose of receiving the birds caught by per- 

 sons who are licensed, and are native Icelanders. About 

 midsummer, these catchers bring their birds on horseback, 

 holding a pole, with another fixed across it, on which ten or 

 twelve sit, all capped, that is, with their heads covered with 

 caps or hoods. This pole is held in their hand, and rested 

 on the stirrup. The falconer examines them very carefully, 

 and returning those that are of an inferior sort, sends off the 

 best to Denmark. During the voyage, they are arranged 

 between the decks, tied to poles, two rows of a side ; these 

 poles are covered with coarse cloth over a stuffing of straw, 

 and lines are strung from one side to the other, pretty close, 

 that they may have something to catch hold of in case of 



