88 
hawk, and rcniarks tliat it “ confirms the opinion of some res- 
pecting the longevity of birds of prey.” 
Although another correspondent of “ Mr. Urban’s ” shares this 
view (“J. W.” tom. dt. p. 218; see also pp. 334, 516, 517), I 
confess 1 am unable to accept it, for it is as difficult to believe 
that a falcon or any other bird would live to the age of one 
hundred and eighty years, as to suppose tliat it would be able 
to feed itself in a state of liberty with a collar of gold round 
its neck.* 
In connection Avith this subject, the reader may be reminded of 
the so-called duck (probably a cormorant) Avith a gold collar, 
mentioned by Gilbert White as having been shot at Trotton in 
Sussex in 1792. 
But to return to old Wood. He always had on hand a good 
supply of pigeons for his liaAvks, as many as thirty dozen being 
maintained at one time at the King’s country house, at Theobalds. 
An entry in the Privy Purse Accounts, under date May 1st, 1608, 
runs as folloAvs : — 
“ To Humphrey Flint the .sum of £24 . 6 . 8 for the cliarges of keeping 
of 30 dozen of pigeons for his Majestys hawks at Theobalds from 
the of August last until the of March 1608. By warrant 
of the Lord Treasurer and by virtue of general Avrit . . £24 . 6 . 8.’’ 
In the same Avay Pobert Eobson is credited Avith a sum of 
£131 7s. 6d. “due to him for feeding & keeping his Majesty’s 
herons Avithin his Majestys park at Theobalds, to the number 
* Although the owner’s name was usually engraven on the varvels, which 
in the case of persons of distinction, Avere of gold or silver, yet it Avonld 
seem that sometimes “plates” of tlie same metal Avere also fastened 
round the neck of a liawk. Borlase in his ‘ Natural History of CornAvall ’ 
(folio 1758, p. 242) says “ Being at Trerice (the seat of the present Lord 
Arundell of Trerice) Aug. 25, 1738, I saAv a hawk, AA'hich being overpoAvered 
by a croAv, fell near a man at his labour in the field, Avho, perceiving 
the hawk cpiite spent, brought it into the house to a gentleman then 
steAvard to his Lordship. The hawk was armed as usual with silver 
2 dates on its legs and neck, and Mr. Church (so the steAvard Avas called) 
perceiving an inscription engraved, cpiickly discovered the name of an 
Irish gentleman, and the place he lived at ; upon this ho took great care 
of the haAvk, and Avrote immediately to the gentkman. The bird Avas 
a favourite, and the gentleman sent a servant from Ireland into ConiAvall 
on purpose to fetch it.” 
