RAMBLING NOTES. 145 



interesting facts respecting birds and animals • but I am sorry to say I 

 was not. 



I have frequently rambled for miles over the hills and dales, and 

 through woods and brakes, in search of birds' nests and young hares and 

 rabbits. I have often with another companion or two visited that 

 beautifully romantic place, Falconer's Hall, seven or eight miles distant 

 from our homes, on expeditions of this kind. I probably may give you 

 an account of some of our visits to that place by and by. It stands on 

 the high wold hills, and commands a fine view of the country around ; 

 a finer place for hawks and hounds cannot be conceived. 



Falconer's Hall was built for the celebrated Colonel Thornton of 

 sporting notoriety. In his day it was the resort of beauty and of wit ; 

 the scene of revelry and mirth. The ploughman was then often 

 cheered by the sound of 66 the echoing horn," and the hills enlivened by 

 the gallant train of horsemen in the field. But hear the immortal 

 Peter's song : — 



" Come, sportsmen, away, — the morning bow fair ! 

 To the wolds, to the wolds, let us quickly repair ; 

 Bold Thunder and Lightning * are mad for the game, 

 And Death and the Devil are both in a flame. 



" See, Backers, a kite ! — a mere speck in tbe sky — 

 Zounds ! out with the owl — lo, he catches bis eye — 

 Down he comes with a sweep — be unhooded each hawk ; 

 Very soon will they both to the gentleman talk. 



" They're at him — he's off — now they're o'er him again • 

 Ah ! that was a stroke — see ! he drops to the plain — 

 They rake him, they tear him — he flutters, he cries, 

 He struggles, he turns up his talons, and dies. 



" See a magpie ! Let fly — how he flutters and shambles ! 



How he chatters, poor rogue ! now he darts to the brambles ; 



Out again — overtaken — his spirits now flag — 



Flip ! he gives up the ghost — good night, Mister Mag. 



" Lo, a heron ! Let loose — how he pokes his long neck, 

 And darts, with what vengeance, but vainly, his beak ! 

 Egad he shifts well— now he feels a death-wound, 

 And with Thunder and Lightning rolls tumbling to ground. 



* Thunder, Lightning, Death, and Devil, — names of four hawks. 



An uncle of mine, who was a true sportsman in his day, says he once met above 

 threa hundred gentlemen and farmers at breakfast at Falconer's Hall, alter which 

 they bad a stag chase. 



VOL. II.- — NO. III. U 



