BRITISH BIRDS. 
2 5 
perfon ; but if he Ihould not be found, the bird is 
delivered to another officer called the guardian of 
loft birds , who, to make his fituation known, ere&s 
his ftandard in a conlpicuous place among the ar- 
my of hunters. In former times the cuftom of 
carrying a hawk on the hand was confined to men 
of high diftin£tion, fo that it was a faying among 
the Welfh, “ you may know a gentleman by his 
hawk, horfe, and greyhound.” Even the ladies in 
thofe times were partakers of this gallant fport, and 
have been reprefented in fculpture with hawks on 
their hands. At prefent this noble diverfion is 
wholly laid afide in this country ; the advanced 
fcate of agriculture which every where prevails, 
and the consequent improvement and inclofure of 
lands, would but ill accord with the purfuits of the 
falconer, who requires a large and extenfive range 
of country, where he may purfue his game without 
moleftation to himfelf, or injury to his neighbour. 
The expence which attended this fport was very 
confiderable, which confined it to princes and men 
of the highefi: rank. In the time of James I. Sir 
Thomas Monfon is faid to have given a thoufand 
pounds for a call of hawks. In the reign of Ed- 
ward III. it was made felony to Heal a hawk ; to 
take its eggs, even in a perfon’s own ground, was 
punilhable with imprifonment for a year and a day, 
together with a fine at the king’s pleafure. Such 
was the pleafure our anceftors took in this royal 
fport, and fuch were the means by which they en- 
