020: ANT I QU ITY OF FALCONRY.- 



tarojfa*,'w\io was drowned in 1189. By the application oi Ethelhen 

 to ^(5«//ijf^, archbifliop of Meniz, for the brace of Falcons, it is evr- 

 ' dent, that the diverlion was in perfeftion in Germany before the year 



752, the time in which that prelate was martyred by the Pagans. It 

 feems to me highly probable, that falconry was invented in Scythia, 

 and pafTed from thence into the northern parts of Europe. Tartary 

 is even at prefent celebrated for its fine breed' of Falcons ; and the 

 fport is in fuch general elteem, that, according to OJearius^ there was 

 no hut hut what had its Eagle or Falcon \. The boundlefs plains of 

 that country are as finely adapted to the diverfion, as the wooded or 

 mountanous nature, of moft part of Europe is ill calculated for that, 

 rapid amufement,. 



The antiquity of falconry in Tartary is evinced by the exhibition ■ 

 of the fport on the very antient tombs J found in that country j ih 

 which are figured horfemen at full fpeed, with Hawks on their hands : 

 others again, in the fame attitude, difcharging their arrows at theii" 

 game, in the very manner of the antient Scythians. 



¥ torn Germany, falconry got footing in England ; and became fo 

 favored^ a diverfion, that even fanguinary laws were enadted for the 

 prefervation of rapacious fowls. Edward 111. made it death for the 

 •ftealing of a Hawk : and to take its eggs, even in a perfon's own 

 ground, was punilhable with a fine at the king's pleafure, and im- 

 prifonment for a year and a day. In the reign of James I. the amufe- 

 ment was carried to fuch an extravagant pitch, that Sir Thomas Mon-r 

 JoU' is faid to have given a thoufand pounds for a caft of Hawks. . 



E. [ busKY . FalcoFufcuSj Faun.Groen. 56, N" 34. b.. 

 i\ Grey Falcoiij Crantz, i. 78. — Egede, 64. 



"C^ With dufky irides : lead-colored cere and feet : brown crown, , 

 marked with irregular oblong white fpots : forehead whitilh : 

 cheeks blackifh : hind part of the. head and throat white : breaft and 



'^ Sfelmaii's Glof. ■\ Okarius's travels, i-jj, % Strahlenherg, l&h. A-'S- . 



bfiUy, 



