582 



OK SOME SPECIES OF THE 



different from that which they were originally in- 

 tended to express, they have occasioned a con- 

 fusion which it will be difficult to clear up, as 

 long as such vague and indefinite expressions are 

 pernaitted in scientific details. 



As this confusion has probably originated in the 

 terms of falconry not being understood by orni- 

 thologists, it may not be improper before entering 

 into an examination of the history of particular 

 species, to mention a few of the terms in most 

 common use, and their proper application to the 

 sports of the field. 



We find, on referring to books on falconry, 

 that the term Gentle or Gentil, was not originally 

 applied to distinguish any particular species of 

 hawk, but merely to characterise such individuals 

 of different species as were mannij or manageable, 

 that is, tamed, and trained to kill game, and suf- 

 ficiently docile to be used in the fields. It was 

 soon, however, considered as the name of a species, 

 and accordingly occurs both In systematic works 

 on natural history, and in modern treatises on 

 falconry, with this erroneous signification. Thus, 

 it is described under the name of Falco Gentilis, 

 by Gesner, Aldrovandus, Willughby, Ray, 

 Albin, Brisson, Linnjeus, Pennant, and La- 

 tham ; and Campbell, in his treatise on Modern 

 Falconry, under the chapter entitled, " Of the 

 chusing of the Faulcon Gentle," says, This 

 bird has received the epithet of Gentle^ pn ac~ 



