INTRODUCTION. xxv 



1617, and full of interesting details of hawking, written 

 at the most flourishing period of its history — namely, at 

 the time when the falconers of James I. of England and of 

 Louis XIII. of France vied with each other in a display of 

 their art. 



French. — The French literature is rich in hawking books. 

 Amongst the older writers, Guillaume Tardif (142), Jean 

 de Franchieres (145), de Gommer (152), Charles d'Arcussia 

 (153), Saincte-Aulaire (155), Pierre Harmont, dit " Mei- 

 cure," (156), Claude de Morals (164), and Seigneur do 

 Boissoudan (202) were all masters of their art, and their 

 works are accordingly of value. Amongst writers of the 

 modern school, precedence must be given to Schlegel's 

 splendid Traite de Fauconnerie with its erudite text and 

 beautifully coloured plates. No less valuable, from its com- 

 prehensive and complete nature, is Baron de Noirmont's 

 Histoire de la Chasse en France (206), the third volume of 

 which contains much important information on the history and 

 progress of Falconry. Reference should also be made to the 

 very useful and instructive work of Viollet-le-Duc,* in which 

 will be found figures and descriptions of some early forms of 

 lure (fig. 21) and hood (figs. 22, 23). As we come nearer to 

 our own time, French works on Falconry, instead of showing 

 signs of decline, seem to issue from the press more frequently, 

 thereby indicating a revived interest in the ancient and time- 

 honoured sport, which is happily sustained by the united efforts 

 and enthusiasm of living French and English falconers. 



Thus may be mentioned with respect and admiration the 

 names of MM. Charavay (210), D'Aubusson (211), Pichot 

 (207, 208, 221), Sourbets (216), Saint Marc (217), Foye 

 (218), Belvalette (219), and Cerfon (220) — all of whom have 

 contributed in an important degree to rescue la chasse au vol 

 from neglect, and place it again upon the footing it once held 

 amongst national field sports. 



To Monsieur P. A. Pichot the present writer is particularly 

 indebted for much kind assistance in relation to French litera- 



* Dictioniiaire Raisoniii du Mobilier Fran^ais de Vipoque Carlovin^enne h la 

 Retiaissancc, vol. ii., 1877, art. Chasse, pp. 407-449. 



