LANNER FALCON. 39 



transverse dark-coloured bands on the belly and thighs. 



There are specimens to be seen in the Norwich 

 Museum, and in the collection of the East India 

 Company. 



Very little, if anything, is known about the habits 

 and nidification of the Lanner. It has been observed 

 in Dalinatia, but only accidentally in other parts of 

 Europe. Lewin describes a true Lanner, said to 

 hare been shot in Lincolnshire. The Dutch Falconers, 

 who take annually many Falcons, agree in the assurance 

 that they have never seen this bird in a wild state. 



In Falconry it is stated to be the best bird to fly 

 at the partridge, and that it will live for many years 

 (eighteen or twenty) in confinement. D'Arcussia, who 

 has written much about Falconry, gives the bird the 

 character of being cowardly by nature. He says the 

 greater number of these birds come from Sicily, where 

 they build their nests among rocks or the branches of 

 high trees. 



Before giving Schlegel's minute description of this 

 bird, we will take the opportunity of saying a few 

 words about the preparation of Falcons for Falconry, 

 with which all the species in this number are so much 

 connected, and which I shall abridge from the "Histoire 

 Naturelle des Oiseaux," by Maout. 



The object of the Falconer in training his bird is 

 to induce it to give up its own will, and to lose all 

 confidence in its own resources. To do this the bird 

 is first subdued by fear, and then attached by hope. 

 First it is kept in the dark for perhaps sixty or seventy 

 hours, during which time the Falconer has it always 

 on his wrist, which is armed with shackles called 

 "castings," or small leather straps, having belts at their 

 extremities, with which they fasten together the bird's 



