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neglefl his dvity. In the reign of James I, .^ir Tho- 
mas Monfon paid one thoufand pounds for a caft 
of hawks; and therefore it cannot appear at all fur- 
prizing that the laws were formerly lb extremely ri- 
gorous in preferving an amufement which was car- 
ried to fuch an extravagant pitch. By a ftatute of 
Edward III. the ftealing of a hawk was deemed 
felony; and the carrying away it's eggs, even from 
a perfon's own ground, was puniftiable with im- 
prifonment for a year and a day, together with a 
mul6l at the king's pleafure. In the reign of 
Elizabeth, the term of confinement was reduced 
to three months ; but the offender was condemned 
to remain in prifon till he could procure fecurity for 
his good behaviour during the fpace of feven years. 
The art of fhooting, indeed, was but little praftifed 
in thofe early times; and the hawk was then greatly 
valued, not only for affording much diverfion, but 
for furnifhing the tables of the opulent with deli- 
cacies which could not be obtained by any other 
means. 
The generous breed of falcons, or hawks, wliich 
have been introduced into the fervice of man, are 
diflinguifhed from all the others by the peculiar 
length of their wings, which reach almoft as fiir as 
their tails; in thefe, the firfl quill of the wing is 
almofl as long as the fecond, and terminates in a 
point wliich begins to diminifh about half an inch 
from it's extremity. Thus the noble breed are 
difcriminated from the bafcr race of kites, fpar- 
row-hawks, and buzzards, whofe tails arc longer 
than their wings, and in which the firft feather of 
each wing is rounded at the extremity. In the ge- 
nerous race likewife, the fecond feather of the 
wing is the longefb; but, among kites, fparrow- 
hawks, and buzzards, the fourth is the moil exten- 
five. 
The magnanimous kinds of Falcons are en- 
dowed with many natural powers, of which the ig- 
noble are wholly deftitute. From the fupcrior 
length of their wings, they are fwifter in the pur- 
fuit of their game; from a confidence in their ve- 
locity, they are emboldened to attack it; and, from 
an innate generofity, they contra6l an attachment 
to their feeders, and are confequently niore docile 
and tradable than birds of a bafcr fort. 
In order to train up a Falcon to hunt for it's ma- 
iler, as well as to prcfent him with fuch game as is 
killed by it, no fnall degree of f!s.ill and affidulty 
are requifite. Numberlels treatifes have been writ- 
ten on this fubjed", which are now, as well as the 
fport itfelf, almoft configned to oblivion: indeed, 
to modern readers, works on llich a topic are per- 
feftly unintelligible; for falconers ufed a language 
peculiar to themfelves, in which they converfed and 
wrote with a profefTional pride. However, we 
jfhall briefly exhibit the moil approved modes by 
which the Falcon may be brought to anfwer it's 
original deftination. 
The manager of this, bird begins by clapping 
Ilraps on it's legs, called jelTes; and to them are 
affixed rings bearing the owner's name, by means 
of which the Falcon may be recovered, if in dan- 
ger of being loft. To thefe rings are added little 
hells, which ferve to notify the fituation of the 
animal though invifible to the eye. It is always 
carried on the lift, and obliged to refrain from fleep ; 
and, when it proves ftubborn, or attempts to bite, 
It's head is immediately plunged into water. Thus, 
by hunger, watching, and fatigue, the Falcon is 
conftrained to fuffer it's head and eyes to be co- 
hered with a.hpod , or Cowl ; which troublefome bu- 
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finefs Is frequently continued for three days and 
nights without much intermiiTion : hov/ever, at the' 
expiration of that time, the necefTinies of the ani-. 
mal, together with it's privation of light, generally 
diveft it of every idea of liberty, and bring down it's 
natural ferocity. It's mailer concludes that it is 
fufficiently tamed, if it permits it's head to be 
covered without refiftance ; and if, when uncovered, 
it feizes the meat laid before it with a degree of 
patient fatisfaftion. A repetition of thefe lefTons 
by degrees enfures fuccefs. The wants of the FaK 
con being the chief principle of it's dependence,' 
various methods are taken to increafe it's hunger, 
particularly that of giving it little balls of fiannel, 
which it fwallows with avidity. Having thus ex-- 
cited the appetite, care is taken to fatisfy it; and 
thus gratitude attaches the bird to the perfon who 
a6ls only as it's tormentor. 
When the firft inftru6lions have proved lliccefs-- 
ful, and the Falcon difcovers tokens of docility," 
it is conveyed to fome confined place; it's head is 
uncovered; and by foothing it v/idi food at diffe- 
rent times, it is gradually taught to jump on it's 
mafter's hand, and to continue there; and, after 
being confirmed in this habit, it is then judged 
proper to acquaint the creature with the lure, 
which is only a ftuffed figure of fome bird die 
Falcon is deftined to purine, perhaps a heron, a 
pigeon, or a quail; and on this lure care is al- 
ways taken to give the creature it's food. Indeed, 
it is necefiary that the bird fliould not only be fa- 
miliarized to thib, but alfo fo'id of it, and delicate 
in it's food when faewn it. As foon as the Falcon 
has alighted on tliis figure, and tafted the firft mor-: 
fel, fome falconers take it away; but by fuch prac- 
tices there is fome danger of intimidating the laird r 
therefore, whenever the creature attcnpts to flv^, 
the fureft method is to feize it, and fuffer the ani- 
mal to feed at laro;e; and this ferves as a reconi- 
pence for it's docility. The ufe of this lure con- 
fifts in flattering tlie Falcon back when it has 
mounted into tlie air, thougli this method does 
not at all times prove effeclual; and, indeed, 
it is always proper to affitl it by the voice and 
figns of it's m after. V7hcn thefe lefibns have been 
pretty often repeated, it is then neceffary to ftudv 
the chai acter of the bird ; to addrefs it n-equcntiy, 
if it leems inattentive to the voice; to feint it in it's 
food v/hen it does not come readily to die lure.; 
to keep it awake if it is not fufficiently familiar; 
and to cover it frequently wich tlie 'nood if it is not 
fully reconciled to the deprivation of lio-ht. T^ e- 
freedom and docility of the Falcon being thus per- 
fe6led' in the field of inftruclion, it is then con- 
veyed to fome extenfive plain, but ftill limited in- 
ic's motions by a ftring about twenty yards in 
length ; and being covered as before, the falconer 
calls it at the diftanceof feveral paces, at the fame 
time fhewirtg it the lure; on vs'hich it flies, and is 
permitted to take a large morfel of the food affixed 
to if. on the day following- the lure is held up- to 
the bird at a greater diftance; and afterwards at 
the utmoft' length of the ftring. The live garne 
conftitutes the next object of allurement, but either 
in a difabled or tame ftate, that the creature may 
conquer it with facility. The Falcon having fcized 
it feveral timics v>'Iiile confined by the ftrinE'- is then 
left entirely at liberty to purfue v/ild game: at that 
the Falcon flies with eagernefs ; and, having either 
feized or killed it, is brought back again by the 
voice and die lure. 
This bird may be taught , to' fly .at any game 
whatever ; 
