336 INTRODUCTION TO ZOOLOGY. 



and other churches in the metropolis, and make great havoc 

 among the flocks of tame pigeons in the neighbourhood.* 



The Peregrine Falcon is the species which, in former times 

 was most used in these countries for the amusement of hawking. 

 This arose from the docility of the bird, and from its being 

 much more numerous, and therefore more easily procured, 

 than the Jer Falcon. " The length of the adult Peregrine 

 Falcon is from fifteen to eighteen inches, depending on the 

 size and age of the bird."t The female bird is of much 

 greater size and strength than the male, and to her, in the 

 language of Falconry, the term "Falcon" was exclusively 

 applied. The male was the "Tiercel," or "Tassel;" the 

 reclaimed male the "Tassel gentle. "f The female was 

 flown at Herons or Ducks; the male at Partridges, Magpies, 

 and Rails. The full-grown birds in the wild state, or while 

 unreclaimed, were called " Haggards. " 



In the training of the Falcons great care, skill, and patience 

 were expended. They were taught to come at the " call," or 

 attend to the " lure " of the keeper. || They were carried to 

 the field upon ' ' the fist, ' ' a thick, and often a highly orna- 

 mented glove being used to prevent the hand from receiving 

 injury from the strength and sharpness of the claws. At such 

 times, their eyes were covered, or "hooded," with a leather 

 covering, usually surmounted by a small ornamental plume of 

 feathers. Bells of brass or silver were attached to the legs; 

 and through small rings likewise fixed there, leathern or silken 

 strings were passed, and wound round the hand of the Falconer 



* Observations on Hawking. 



t Yarrell. 



j u Oh, for a falconer's voice to lure this Tassel gentle back again!" 



ROMEO AND JULIET. 

 " As coy and wild as Haggards of the rock." 



MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. 



|| To this Shakspeare alludes : 



" My Falcon now is sharp and passing empty; 

 And, till she stoop, she must not be full gorged, 

 For then she never looks upon her lure. 

 Another way I have to man my Haggard, 

 To make her come, and know her keeper's call." 



TAMING OF THE SHREW. 



Any one who has read the "Abbot," will remember the quarrel between 

 Roland Grajme and Adam Woodcock, about the feeding of a Hawk. In 

 another of Sir Walter Scott's Tales, " The Betrothed," there is a spirited 

 description of a Hawking-match, in which two Falcons are flown at a 

 Heron. 



