HAWKING. 
151 
pened in the time of Henry YIIL, when it seems 
that they were attracted by the offal of butchers' and 
poulterers' stalls ; and as, on account of their use in 
removing so offensive a nuisance, they were not 
allowed to he killed, they became so fearless as 
actually to mingle with the passengers, and take 
their prey in the very midst of the greatest crowds. 
Few people are, indeed, aware of the numbers of 
Hawks existing at this day, in London. On and 
about the dome of St. Paul's, they may be often 
seen, and within very few years, a pair, for several 
seasons, built their nest and reared their brood 
in perfect safety between the golden dragon's wings 
which formed the weather-cock of Bow Church, in 
Cheapside. They might be easily distinguished by 
the thousands who walked below, flying in and out, 
or circling round the summit of the spire, notwith- 
standing the constant motion and creaking noise of 
the weather-cock, as it turned round at every change 
of wind. 
In consequence of the disappearance of wastes and 
commons, by enclosures and hedges, wdiich rendered it 
no easy matter to follow the amusement without dan- 
ger and delay, and also, ever since the introduction of 
guns, hawking has gradually declined, and may he 
now said to he nearly at an end; though within late 
years, some attempts have been made to revive it. 
The following account is from an eye-witness of a 
day's hawking, which occurred in June, 1825, in 
Norfolk, in the flat fen-country, near a heronry. 
The party assembled in the afternoon, the wind 
blowing towards the heronry. There were four 
couple of Hawks, all females, of the breed known 
