BIRDS OF PREY. 137 
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 7o- 
ble birds of prey, on account of their use in falconry, and 
the rest of the family were termed zgnobdle birds of prey. 
The Eagles are the largest birds of the latter class. 
There are several species, all 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 
Treland, 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 swoop 
or rush like that of the Falcons, but more terrific and 
overpowering from its greater size. 
