FALCONRY 



When such a quarry as the woodcock, which of course can 

 fly far as well as fast, ' takes the air,' an extraordinary distance 

 may be covered by pursued and pursuer. One of the most 

 remarkable flights recorded, is that mentioned by the late 

 Mr. Knox {Gamehirds and Wild Fowl, 1850). He was hawking 

 with the Hon. R. Westenra in Rossmore Park, Co. Monaghan, 

 when a woodcock was put up. The bird, after a short chase, 

 took the air closely pursued by the falcon — the property of 

 Mr. Westenra — whose name and address were engraved on her 

 bells and varvels. In a short time both birds had attained 

 such an elevation that they were with difficulty kept in view. 

 At last, just as they had become like specks in the sky they were 

 observed to pass rapidly towards the north-east under the 

 influence of a strong south-west wind, and were soon completely 

 out of sight. Some days elapsed without any tidings of the 

 truant falcon : but before the week had expired, a parcel 

 arrived at Rossmore Park accompanied by a letter, bearing a 

 Scotch postmark. The first contained the dead body of the 

 falcon, the latter the closing chapter of her history from the 

 hand of her destroyer, a farmer, who resided within ten miles of 

 Aberdeen. Upon comparison of dates it was found that she 

 had been shot near Aberdeen, within forty-eight hours after 

 she had been flown at the woodcock in a central part of the 

 province of Ulster. 



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