8'i msroKY of 



The falcon, properly so called, is the second in magnitude 

 and lame. There are some varieties in this bird ; but there 

 seem to be only two that claim distinction ; the falcon-gentil and 

 the peregrine-falcon ; both are much less than the gyr, and some- 

 what about the size of a raven. They differ but slightly, and 

 perhaps only from the different states they were in when brought 

 into captivity. Those differences are ejisier known by cxperi 

 enee than taught by description. The falcon-gentil* moults 

 in March, and often sooner ; the peregrine-falcon does not 

 moult till the middle of August. The peregrine is stronger 

 in the shoulder, has a larger eye, and yet more sunk in the 

 head ; his beak is stronger, his legs longer, and the toes better 

 divided. 



Next in size to these is the lanner, a bird now A^ery little 

 known in Europe ; then follows the sacre, the legs of which are 

 of a bluish colour, and serve to distinguish that bird ; to them 

 succeeds the hobby, used for smaller game, for daring larks, and 

 stooping at quails. The kestril was trained for the same pur- 

 poses ; and lastly the merlin ; which, though the smallest of all 

 the hawk or falcon kind, and not much larger than a thrush, yet 

 displays a degree of courage that renders him formidable even to 

 birds ten times his size. He has often been known to kill a 

 partridge or a quail at a single pounce from above. 



Some of the other species of sluggish birds were now and 

 then trained to this sport, but it was when no better could be ob- 

 tained ; but these just described were only considered as birds of 

 the nobler races. Their courage in general was such, that no 

 bird, not very much above their own size, could terrify them ; 

 their swiftness so great, that scarcely any bird could escape them ; 

 and their docility so remarkable, that they obeyed not only the 

 commands, but the signs of their master. They remained quiet- 

 ly perched upon his hand till their game was flushed, or else 

 kept hovering round his head, without ever leaving him but when 

 he gave permission. The common falcon is a bird of such spirit, 

 that, like a conqueror in a country, he keeps all birds in awe and 

 subjection to his prowess. Where he is seen flying wild, as I 

 often had an opportunity of observing, the birds of every kind, 

 that seemed entirelv to disregard the kite or the sparrow-hawk, 



4 



* Th« falcons gentil aix now ascertained to be merely the young of tlie 

 )[oshawk. 



