THE LANXER. 97 



The peregrine is exceedingly bold and daring, and so little 

 afraid of men and dogs, that it will sometimes join the 

 hunters in the lower moors, and if no shots are fired, strike 

 and cany off a portion of the game. It was, in all proba- 

 bility, that habit which first led to the training of it ; and 

 those who are fond of field sports must, in these cases, regret 

 that the falcon is not, as in the olden time, their servant, and 

 not their rival. As to the mere slaughtering of birds, the 

 gun (with a tolerable shot) probably kills more in one day 

 than the falcon would in a week ; but the falcon kills the 

 birds when they are stronger on the wing, and in better con- 

 dition and the sport, from the beautiful action of the falcon, 

 is much finer. One regrets, therefore, that it has become 

 unfashionable in the real sports of the field. To let birds fly 

 from the hand, in order that they may be pounced by the 

 falcon, is probably cruel, and certainly vulgar, just as it is to 

 turn out a tame buck to the hounds, or let the birds from the 

 trap, at that most ignoble of all killing sports, a pigeon- 

 match ; but when the birds fly strong and the falcon is sure 

 and true, in wild nature it is indeed glorious sport ; though 

 sport which those who are grinding the flesh of a lamb that 

 feil by the butcher's knife feelingly designate as cruel. 



THE LANNER (Falco lanariiis) 



Bears some resemblance to the peregrine, but it is smaller. 

 It is said to be abundant on the southern slopes of the Carpa- 

 thian mountains ; but its appearance in Britain, even as a 

 straggler, is rather doubtful. 



THE HOBBY 



The hobby is a bold and beautiful little bird, the pere- 

 grine falcon in miniature, in form and habits, only more 

 deeply tinted and rich in its plumage. In wing, it is pro- 

 portionally even more powerful than the peregrine, the wings 



VOL. I. H 



