134 PEREGRI^'E I'ALCOt!^* 



Antelope, the Wolf, Fox, &c. The larger kind of 

 Falcons, as the Jerfalcon, the Peregrine, and the 

 Goshawk were used for the flight after the Heron, 

 the Wildgoose, the Crane, the Hare, &c. the Com- 

 mon Falcon principally for the more general rur* 

 of game; while the smaller kind were often in- 

 structed to fly at the Partridge and the Quail. 

 The Iceland Falcon is, according to Mr. Pennant, 

 in the highest esteem, and will last ten* or twelve 

 years, whereas those of Norway and other countries 

 are seldom fit for the sports of the field after two or 

 three years use. 



The feats performed by the Jerfalcon are indeed 

 to be numbered among the noblest in the practice 

 of Falconry. Scaliger attests, that he saw one 

 which belonged to Henry, King of Navarre, strike 

 down a Buzzard, two Wildgeese, divers Kites, a 

 Crane, and a Swan. 



Among the best of Hawks for Falconry is also 

 the Goshawk : these were used by the Emperor of 

 China in his sporting progresses attended by his 

 Grand Falconer, and a thousand subordinate. The 

 Emperor often carried a Hawk on his hand, to let 

 fly at any game which might present itself, and 

 wiiich were usually Pheasants, Partridges, Cranes, 

 or Quails. This diversion was witnessed by Marco 

 Polo in the year 1269. 



The flight of a strong Falcon is wonderfully 

 swift. It is recorded, that a Falcon belonging to 



* Some writers speak of Falcons continuing in full vigour foir 

 tv^'cnty years. 



