THE FALCON KIND. 
23 
too slow', too cowardly, too indolent, or too obstinate, to 
bo serviceable in contributing to the pleasure of the field. 
The gyr falcon leads in this bold train. In size he exceeds 
all other falcons, for he approaches nearly to the magnitude 
of the eagle. The top of the head is flat, and of an ash co- 
lour, with a strong, thick, short, and blue beak. The fea- 
thers of the beak and wings are marked with black spots, in 
the shape of an heart ; he is a courageous and tierce bird, 
nor fears even the eagle himself; but he chiefly flics at the 
stork, the heron, and the crane. He is most found in the 
colder regions of the north, but loses neither his'strength 
nor his courage when brought into the milder climates. 
The falcon, properly so called, is the second in magnitude 
and fame. There are some varieties in this bird ; but there 
seeni to be only two that claim distinction ; the falcon-genii/, 
a nd the peregrine-falcon ; both are much less than the gyr, 
a nd somewhat about the size of a raven. Next in size to 
1 nese is the lanncr , a bird now' very little known to Europe ; 
then follows the mere , the legs of which are of a bluish co- 
lour, and serve to distinguish that bird; to them succeeds 
the hobby , used for smaller game, for daring larks, and 
stooping at quails. The h estril was trained for the same pur- 
pose ; and last the merlin ; which, though the smallest of 
all the hawk or falcon kind, and not much larger than a 
thrush, yet displays a degree of courage that renders him 
formidable even to birds ten times his size. He has often 
een known to kill a partridge or a quail at a single pounce 
from above. tot 8 ) 
1 he courage of these creatures in general w r as such, that no 
. . j not very much above their own size, could terrify them; 
heir swiftness so great, that scarce any bird could escape 
them, and their docility so remarkable, that they obeyed not 
only the commands, but the signs of their master. They re- 
mained quietly perched upon his hand till their game was 
tlushcd, or else kept hovering round his head without ever 
leaving him but when he gave permission. The common 
alcon is a bird of such spirit, that, like a conqueror in a 
country, he keeps all birds in awe and in subjection to his 
piowess. Where he is seen flying wild, the birds of every 
cind, that seemed entirely to disregard the kite or the spar- 
row-hawk, fly with screams at his most distant appearance. 
In order to train up a falcon, the master begins by clap- 
Pmg straps upon his legs, which are called jesses, to which 
me fastened a ring with the owner’s name, by which, in case 
ie should be lost, the finder may know where to bring him 
aC l *^ lese a ^ so are added little bells, which serve to 
mark the place where he is seen, if lost in the chace. He is 
