£111 1>S. 



77 



neck, is a collar formed by soft longish feathers, of a deep ash- 

 colour, which surround the neck, and cover the breast before. 

 Into this collar the bird sometimes withdraws its whole neck, 

 and sometimes a part of its head, so that it looks as if it had 

 withdraw n the neck into the body. Those marks are sufficient 

 to distinguish this bird from all others of the vulture kind ; and 

 it cannot be doubted, but that it is the most beautiful of all this 

 deformed family ; however, neither its habits nor instincts vary 

 from the rest of the tribe ; being, like them, a slow cowardly 

 bird, living chieHy upon rats, lizards, and serpents ; and upon 

 carrion or excrement, when it happens to be in the way. The 

 flesh is so bad, that even savages themselves cannot abide it. 



CHAP. V. 



OF THE FALCON KIND, AND ITS AFFINITIES. 



EvEttY creature becomes more important in the history ot 

 nature in proportion as it is connected with man. In this view, 

 the smallest vegetable, or the most seemingly contemptible in- 

 sect, is a subject more deserving attention than the most flour- 

 ishing tree, or the most beautiful of the feathered creation. In 

 this view, the falcon is a more important animal than the eagle 

 or the vulture ; and though so very diminutive in the compari- 

 son, is notwithstanding, from its connexion with our pleasures, 

 a much more interesting object of curiosity. 



The amusement of hawking, indeed, is now pretty much given 

 over in this kingdom ; for as every country refines, as its in- 

 closures become higher and closer, those rural sports must con- 

 sequently decline, in which the game is to be pursued over a 

 long extent of country; and where, while everything retards 

 the pursuer below, nothing can stop the object of his pursuit 

 above. 



Falconry, that is now so much disused among us, was the 

 principal amusement of our ancestors. A person of rank 

 scarcely stirred out without his hawk on his hand ; which, in old 

 paintings, is the criterion of nobility. Harold, afterwards king 

 of England, when he went on a most important embassy into 



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