58 Falconidce. 



as it is styled. Again, in the true falcons, the iris, or coloured 

 circle surrounding the pupil of the eye, will be always seen to be 

 dark ; while in the ignoble birds the irides are universally bright 

 yellow. And again, in flight, the true falcon soars to a great 

 height, and descends with a swoop upon its prey, while the 

 short-winged pursue it in a direct line near the earth ; but both 

 display considerable strength, boldness, and activity, and of 

 both I am proud to enumerate a goodly list as belonging to this 

 county. Doubtless in olden time, when every gentleman and 

 lady also had a cast or two of hawks, our wide open Wiltshire 

 downs were much resorted to for the noble sport of falconry, 

 and called forth such commendations for remarkable suitability 

 for the sport as were bestowed on it some years since by one of 

 the few genuine falconers remaining in the kingdom, Mr. Pells, 

 when he exercised, on the downs above Lavington, the royal 

 falcons, six magnificent Peregrines, the property of the hereditary 

 Grand Falconer, the Duke of St. Albans. Hawking has long 

 since gone by, and the hound has usurped the place of the 

 falcon ; but it must have been a goodly sight to see a hawking- 

 party equipped for the field: prancing steeds bearing gallant 

 knights, and palfreys carrying ladies fair ; the falconer with his 

 stand of hawks, and each falcon bearing a silver bell on her foot, 

 and capped with a gay hood, surmounted by a plume. Then 

 when the open down was reached and the game was flushed ; 

 what excitement to watch the unhooded hawks start in pursuit, 

 the rapidity of their flight, their graceful soaring in circles above 

 their victim, the sudden pounce, the deadly swoop, the terrific 

 blow; what galloping (and that somewhat blindly and dan- 

 gerously, with eyes directed upwards) to come up with the 

 falcon, which has ' bound ' to its victim, and fluttered with it to 

 the earth ; what enticing with the lure, what caressing it when 

 recovered and safely hooded once more. But these days have 

 gone by, and though our downs remain inviting to the sport, 

 and the falcons and hawks range over them in considerable 

 numbers, they are looked upon no longer with favour, but are 

 persecuted, hunted, and destroyed by every gamekeeper and 



