BRITISH BIRDS. 33 



At present this noble diversion is wholly laid aside 

 in this country ; the advanced state of agriculture 

 which every where prevails, and the consequent 

 improvement and inclosure'of lands, would but ill 

 accord with the pursuits of the falconer, who re- 

 quires a large and extensive range of country, 

 where he may pursue his game without molestation 

 to himself, or injury to his neighbour. The expence 

 that attended this sport was very considerable, 

 which confined it to princes and men of the highest 

 rank. In the time of James I. Sir Thomas Monson 

 is said to have given a thousand pounds for a cast 

 of Hawks. In the reign of Edward III. it was 

 made felony to steal a Hawk ; to take its eggs, 

 even in a person's own ground, was punishable 

 with imprisonment for a year and a day, together 

 with a fine at the king's pleasure. Such was the 

 delight our ancestors took in this royal sport, and 

 such were the means by w^hich they endeavoured to 

 secure it. Besides the bird just described, there 

 are many other kinds which were formerly in high 

 estimation for the sports of the field ; these were 

 principally the Falcon, the Jer-Falcon, the Lanner, 

 the Sacre,* the Hobby, the Kestrel, and the Merlin : 

 these are called the Long-winged Hawks, and are 

 distinguished from the Goshawk, the Sparrow- 

 hawk, the Kite, and the Buzzard, which are of 

 shorter wing, slower in their motions, more indo- 

 lent, and less courageous than the others. 



* A name implying a particular brown colour of some of the 

 unmoulted Falcons-Gentil. 



VOL. I. 



