BIRDS OF PREY. 127 



gland, called hawking or falconry. Another bird of this 

 tribe, somewhat smaller than the Gyrfalcon, was common- 

 ly used for this purpose. It is the Peregrine Falcon, 

 found in most parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. 

 The boldness of this bird is such that it was employed 

 even in taking so formidable a bird as the Heron. The 

 Falcon was held hooded on its master's hand until the 

 Heron was aroused from its retreat ; then, on being set 

 free, it pursued the Heron aloft, each bird striving to as- 

 cend above the other. The Falcon was always victorious ; 

 and at length, with a sweep, it pounced on its victim, and 

 both then came to the ground together. The part of the 

 sportsman was to reach the place of conflict as soon as 

 possible, and aid the Falcon in vanquishing its prey. So 

 fashionable was this sport at one time in England, that 

 persons of rank, when they appeared in public, generally 

 had a hawking-bird on the hand. 



218. The true Falcons were formerly designated as no- 

 ble birds of prey, on account of their use in falconry, and 

 the rest of the family were termed ignoble birds of prey. 

 The Eagles are the largest birds of the latter class. 

 There are several species, ah 1 of which have the feathers 

 extend down on the legs even to the talons. That mag- 

 nificent bird, the Golden Eagle, is among the most wide- 

 ly diffused of all species of Birds, being found on the Con- 

 tinent of Europe, in the north of England, Scotland, and 

 Ireland, in Asia, and in North America, from the tem-^ 

 perate to the arctic regions. It has ever been regarded 

 as an emblem of might and courage, holding, as " king 

 of birds," the same rank among them as the Lion does 

 among beasts. With its powerful wings this immense 

 bird soars to a great height, and is a grand object amid 

 the rudeness and sublimity of the localities which it fre- 

 quents. Its acute vision enables it to see its prey at a 

 great distance, and it darts down upon it with a sicoop 

 or rush like that of the Falcons, but more terrific and 

 overpowering from its greater size. 



