io FALCONRY 



CHAPTER IV 



GERFALCONS KITE HAWKING HARE HAWKING MERLINS- 

 HOW MANAGED LARK HAWKING THE HOBBY THE SACRE 



THE LANNER SHAHINS SPORT IN INDIA OTHER 



VARIETIES OF HAWKS USED IN FALCONRY. 



THE noblest kind of hawk that is, or ever has been, used in 

 falconry is certainly the ger-, or gyrfalcon, as the three varieties 

 of the great Northern falcons are each called indiscriminately 

 by falconers. These varieties are, first, the Greenland Falcon, 

 the handsomest of the three, almost (in its adult plumage) 

 snow-white, with handsome, regular markings. This variety is 

 more widely distributed than the other two, but the only 

 specimens which have been trained have been either ship 

 caught birds or stray hawks that have been taken by some 

 chance. Secondly, the Iceland Falcon. Very many hawks of 

 this variety have been trained, some being birds taken from the 

 nest in Iceland (to which country it is almost entirely confined) 

 and others birds caught when fully grown, besides chance speci- 

 mens. Thirdly, the Norwegian variety, which has been taken 

 both adult and from the nest by expeditions of falconers sent 

 expressly to procure them. Three specimens also have, during 

 the last fifty years, been taken on the passage at Valkenswaard, 

 all of which were trained with varying success. 



Just as big yachts sail faster than little ones, so the ger- 

 falcons, being nearly twice the size of peregrines, can fly far 

 faster even than those swift birds. Moreover, in their style of 

 flying they excel all other hawks. No gerfalcon that has the 

 full use of her wings ever makes a bad stoop or flies in bad 



