38 FALCONS. 



32. In the Division of Xoele Birds of Prey, the second 

 quill of the wing is the longest, and only exceeds the first one a 

 very little, which makes their vdngs pointed, and influences their 

 manner of flight very much ; when the air is calm, their flight is 

 always very oblique, and to rise perpendicularly they have to 

 fly against the wind. 



33. Falcons properly so called — Faico, — are recognised 

 by the tooth or notching with which the upper mandible is armed 

 on each side, near its point, and by their wings being almost 

 always as long or longer than their tail. In proportion to their 

 size they are the most courageous of all birds of prey ; a quality 

 which corresponds with the power of their arms and the strength 

 of their wings. They are also the most docile of the hunting 

 birds, and the most important in the art of falconry, as they are 

 taught to pursue the game, and return when they are called. 



34. The principal species of this genus are; the Common 

 Falcov, — Falco communis^ — which is of the size of a hen, and 

 inhabits all the northern part of the globe ; the Hohbij, — Falco 

 subbuteo, — the Merlin, — Falco cEScalon, and the Falco Utho- 

 falco, — which inhabit Europe, and when young resemble the 

 common Falcon : the Kestrels, have shorter toes and their flight 

 is not so rapid. The duration of the hfe of the Falcon is very 

 great ; it is stated that in the year 1793, a person caught, at the 

 Cape of Good Hope, a falcon wearing a collar of gold, upon 

 which was engraved, this bird, in 1610, belonged to James I, 

 King of England. It was consequently, upwards of one hun- 

 dred and eighty years old, and still preserved its" vigour. The 

 flight of the falcon is very rapid : it commonly feeds on large 

 birds, such as pheasants, pigeons, ducks, geese, &-c., and to 

 possess them, it rises above its prey, and pounces perpendicu- 

 larly upon it. This quality and the facility with which the com- 

 mon falcon may be trained, caused it to be much esteemed when 

 the great and wealthy were pleased to pursue game with birds, as 

 they do now with dogs ; this bird has given its name to the art of 

 hunting with birds of prey. The manner of training these ani- 

 mals was by shutting them up from the light, exhausting their 

 strength by fatigue, and fasting, and then presenting bait, and 

 accustoming them by degrees to pursue this or that kind of 

 game. 



32. Which is the longest quill in noble birds of Prey ? 



33. What is the distinguishing mark of Falcons properly so called? 

 What is their general character ? 



34. What are the principal species of Falcon ? What is falconry ? 



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