254 NOTES TO THE ILLUSTRATIONS. 



abounds with the most interesting details of his experience in 

 these branches of the sport. He was the only falconer of 

 modern times who procured a young goshawk from a nest in 

 Great Britain. This bird was taken in the forest of Rothiemurcus 

 {op. cit., p. 176), where there were a few eyries in the great fir 

 trees, some of which he saw {pp. cit., p. 107). 



While residing at Thornville Royal (now called Stourton), in 

 Yorkshire, his hawks were flown " at hack " from the observatory 

 in the park, and the present dairy was then the mews. He 

 hawked all over the neighbouring moors, as Blubberhouse 

 and Grassington Moors, and the then open country about 

 Kirk Deighton. At Beilby Grange (then called Wetherby 

 Grange) there was a heronry ; and Clifford and Bramham Moor 

 being not then enclosed, he flew at the herons " on passage " 

 as they crossed over the moors. Whilst the crops were stand- 

 ing he used to adjourn to the Yorkshire wolds, where he built a 

 house, which he called Falconers' Hall, near Boythorpe, about 

 twelve miles from Scarboro'. 



In 1805 Thornville Royal was sold to Lord Stourton, to 

 whom possession was given in January 1806. For the mansion, 

 pleasure grounds, and park he gave ;^i63,8oo, and for twenty- 

 eight other lots, ^62,650 ; or in all, ;^2 26,450. ("Annals of 

 Sporting," 1823, vol. iii. p. 294.) 



In 1808 Colonel Thornton left Yorkshire for Spye Park, in 

 Wiltshire, which he took upon lease, as the Yorkshire wolds at 

 that time were beginning to be spoiled for hawking by being 

 broken up for corn crops. (Salvin and Brodrick, p. 8, note.) 

 The Rev. A. C. Smith states (" Birds of Wiltshire," p. 345), 

 on the authority of Mr. James Waylen, that "when Colonel 

 Thornton, who once rented Spye Park, sported in Wiltshire, he 

 occasionally flew his hawks at bustards, the apparent slowness 

 of that bird, when seen at a distance, tempting him to the trial, 

 but the hawks had no chance." 



About 181 5 he gave up hawking and retired to France, 

 where he had already, in 1802, made an enjoyable sporting tour 

 (see No. 58). Here, in July i8i7,he purchased the chateau of 

 Pont-le-Roi (now Pont-sur-Seine), Departement d'Aube, which, 

 however, he resold in 182 1 to M. Casimir Perrier, the famous 

 statesman and orator (whose son is still in possession), and took a 

 lease from the Princesse de Wagram of her residence at Chambord. 



