162 HAWKING. 



and secured him. He was then taken out with the 

 greatest care, for fear of injuring any of his feathers, 

 particularly those of the wings and tail, and a hood 

 placed on his head, and drawn over his eyes. It is 

 most likely in consequence of the persevering pursuit 

 and capture of them, that this fine breed of birds is 

 becoming exceedingly scarce in Iceland; a late tra- 

 veller, during' a visit of some months, not being 

 fortunate enough to see one, even at a distance. 



We may form some opinion of the rapidity with 

 which Hawks fly upon their prey, from the singular 

 manner in which the Lanner, a small Hawk, about 

 the size of a Pigeon (Falco lanarms)^ is often taken, 

 or as often killed, in the Feroe Islands, between 

 Iceland and the north of Scotland, where they are 

 abundant, and is considered as the tyrant of the 

 smaller birds. The Starlings are in such fear of it, 

 that, when pursued, they will take shelter in a 

 church, or a house, and often seek refuge in the pre- 

 sence of men. They often escape by what is called 

 a wind-house, a building made for drying meat or 

 fish, the sides of which consist of laths placed at a 

 very small distance from each other, just wide enough, 

 however, to admit the body of a Starling, through 

 which, when pursued, the frightened bird contrives 

 to slip, leaving the Lanner, eagerly following close 

 behind, jammed quite fast between them. 



There is a Hawk called the Ringtail, or Goshawk 

 (Falco palumbarius), now rare in England, though 

 formerly plentiful, and much valued for hawking, 

 which committed sad devastation amongst Partridges. 

 Its mode of hunting was, to beat a field, and when 

 a covey was sprung, to fly after them, and observe 



