98 MARVELS OF THE ANIMAL WORLD 



The cries of the rooks were heard for several 

 miles. 



' Two of the birds came down as though shot, 

 and on being retrieved were found to have broken 

 and ripped backs. For some minutes the fight 

 continued — the whole colony mobbing the pair 

 of peregrines, who secvured three more victims, aU 

 falling and mutilated ia like manner. 



' Eventually the falcons swept away, easily 

 outdistancing the clumsier rooks. When last seen 

 they were observed to be flying in a south-easterly 

 direction. Peregrine falcons have not been known 

 to appear so near to London for nearly a century.' 



It was quite a common practice in olden days 

 for the people to carry their trained hawks when 

 they promenaded the streets, and they would also 

 take their feathered companions to church. During 

 the reign of Edward III, it is recorded that the 

 Bishop of Ely attended service at a certain church 

 in Southwark, and left his hawk in the cloister 

 whilst he proceeded with his devotions ; but, when 

 he returned to fetch the bird, he found it had been 

 stolen, whereupon his wrath was so great that he 

 promptly pronounced excommunication upon the 

 thief. 



In a hke manner to the present-day custom of 

 wearing various garments which are considered 

 to be appropriate to certain sports, so in the past 

 did the falconer deck himself out in a special 

 costume when he went out to the chase. His 

 jacket or jerkin was slashed and adorned with lace ; 

 his breeches were stuffed out balloon-hke from 



