68 HABITS OF THE JEKFALCON. 



and therefore better adapted for the purpose of falconry. Sometimes it is seen in the 

 northern parts of the British Islands, having evidently flown over the five hundred 

 miles or so of sea that divides Scotland from Iceland; this journey, however, is no difficult 

 task for the Jerfalcon, who is quite capable of paying a morning visit to these islands and 

 returning to its home on the same day. In 1859 one of these birds was shot in 

 Northumberland, and others have been observed in the more southern counties. Towards 

 the south, however, it has seldom if ever been observed. 



The power of flight possessed by this bird is wonderfully great, and has been well 

 described by Mr. Mudie in his history of the British Birds. " It pays occasional visits to 

 the northern and western isles, more especially to those places of them that abound with 

 rock doves ; and few sights can be finer than that of the Jerfalcon driving through a flock 

 of them. When the Jerfalcon comes within sight of her prey she bounds upwards, every 

 stroke of the wings producing a perpendicular leap, as if she were climbing those giant 

 stairs with which nature moulds the basaltic rocks ; and when she has "got the sky" of 

 her prey to a sufficient height for gaining the necessary impetus, her wings shiver for a 

 moment she works herself into proper command and poise, and to the full extent of her 

 wings. Then, prone she dashes, with so much velocity that the impression of her path 

 remains in the eye in the same manner as that of the shooting meteor or the flashing 

 lightning, and you fancy that there is a torrent of Falcon rushing for fathoms through 

 the air. The stroke is as unerring as the motion is fleet. If it takes effect on the body, 

 the bird is trussed and the hunt is over ; but if a wing only is broken, the maimed 

 bird is allowed to flutter to the earth, and another is marked out for the collision of death. 



It sometimes happens that the mountain crow comes in for the wounded game, but 

 in order to do so it must proceed stealthily along the ground, for woe betide it if it 

 rises on the wing and meets the glance of the Falcon. The raven himself never scoops out 

 another eye if he rises to attempt that one ; and it is by no means improbable that in the 

 early season in those cold northern countries, when the lambs are young and the flock 

 weak, and the crows and ravens prowl about blinding and torturing, the Jerfalcon may be 

 of considerable service to the shepherd." 



When at liberty in its native land, it seems to prefer birds to any other kind of prey, 

 and will resolutely attack birds of considerable size, such as the heron or stork. It 

 will also chase hares and rabbits, and in the pursuit of this swift game is so eager, 

 that after knocking over one hare it will leave the maimed animal struggling on the 

 ground while it goes off in chase of another. Although its home is in the chilly wastes 

 of those northern regions, the bird is in no want of food, finding ample supply in 

 the sea birds which swarm around the tall cliffs that jut into the waves, and being 

 able from its great powers of flight to range over a vast extent of country in search 

 of its daily food. 



On account of the singular power, swiftness, and courage of this bird, it was in former 

 days held in the highest estimation, and could only be purchased at a most extravagant 

 price. Not only must it be taken at the imminent risk of life, from the almost in- 

 accessible cliffs on which it builds its nest, but it must also be specially brought from 

 Iceland or Norway, and trained after its arrival at its new residence. As the bird is a 

 most unruly and self-willed creature, its instruction was a matter of very great difficulty, 

 and could only be achieved by the most patient of skilful teachers. So highly indeed 

 was this bird valued, that after the hawking season was over, and the ordinary hawks 

 permitted to fly at liberty according to custom, the Jerfalcon was retained by its owner, 

 and kept for the next year. The training of this bird is a long and tedious process, and 

 is managed after the following manner. 



It is allowed that all hawks are fierce and untameable in proportion to the latitude 

 in which they reside, those which inhabit the northern and colder parts of the earth 

 being much fiercer and less tameable than those of more southern regions ; so that the 

 course of training through which a Jerfalcon is forced to pass, is much more severe than 

 that which suffices to render a Peregrine Falcon subservient to its teacher. 



The first object which the trainer bears in mind is, to reduce the strength of the bird 

 by slow degrees, so as to prevent it from injuring itself by the fierce and protracted 



