GROUSE HAWKING. 163 



Derry and Antrim were favourite breeding places. 

 Some were from the cliffs of Benevenagh, others 

 from Fair Head, Tory Island, and the Giants' 

 Causeway. The isle of Arran had at different 

 times furnished him with fine hawks, as well as 

 Rathlin Island and Greron Point, and Innishowen 

 on the coast between LochFoyle and Loch S willy. 

 He had also procured peregrines from a certain 

 inland precipice on the property of Mr. Cole 

 Hamilton ; but although most of them were ob- 

 tained from Ireland, some came from the North 

 of Scotland, among which he particularly remem- 

 bered a favourite bird from Ailsa Craig. 



Next to good hawks, an efficient falconer and 

 plenty of elbow room, well-trained dogs were of 

 the greatest importance. Long experience had 

 satisfied Colonel Bonham that a variety known by 

 the name of Russian setters were better adapted 

 for this sport than the common setter or pointer. 

 He found them far more docile and sagacious, 

 yet equally spirited ; and they possessed the in- 

 estimable advantage of not being spoiled as shoot- 

 ing dogs by the unavoidable indulgences and 

 licences which were permitted during a day's 

 hawking. This may be best illustrated by a scene 

 of ordinary occurrence. The setters have found 

 game. The falconer advances with his hawks un- 

 hooded and ready to start from his fist. Now 



