PEREGRINE FALCON. 141 



to be occasionally practised in Persia*; viz. train- 

 ing small birds [sparrows) to the pursuit of the 

 larger kind of Butterflies. This we may suppose 

 to be peculiarly calculated for the amusement of 



the ladies. 



Spallanzani, in his Sicilian Travels, informs us 



that, during his residence at Scandiano, he amused 

 himself with breeding up three young Falcons. 

 They were so well tamed, that, after straying about 

 for the whole day among the neighbouring hills 

 and plains, they punctually returned every evening 

 to the hou?e of their benefactor, in which they 

 had been bred: they regularly demanded their 

 food, and then went to roost on a tall oak which 

 grew near. Early every morning they waked 

 him by their cries, and by beating against the 

 window; never departing till they had been fed. 

 Many of Spallanzani's friends and acquaintance, 

 and even strangers, came to visit him on purpose 

 to witness this interesting scene; and undoubtedly, 

 as he observes, notwithstanding what we know of 

 the art of Falconry, it was a truly curious thing to 

 see these three birds, which were in a state of 

 perfect liberty, and in full enjoyment of the em- 

 pire of the air, descend, at the voice of their master, 

 from heights at which they could scarcely be seen, 

 perch on his hand, and receive his caresses, without 

 being in the least intimidated by the crowd of 

 spectators. Yet this confidence, perfect as it was, 

 did not last any long time; and there can be no 



* Sir Antony Sheriie's Relations. 



