158 
HAWKING. 
and secured him. He was then taken out with the 
greatest care, for fear of injuring any of his feathers, 
particularly those of the wings and tail, and a hood 
placed on his head, and drawn oyer his eyes. It is 
most likely in consequence of the persevering pursuit 
and capture of them, that this fine breed of birds is 
becoming exceedingly scarce in Iceland; a late tra- 
veller, during a visit of some months, not being 
fortunate enough to see one, even at a distance. 
We may form some opinion of the rapidity with 
which Hawks fly upon their prey, from the singular 
manner in which the Lanner, a small Hawk, about 
the size of a Pigeon, ( Falco lanarius ,) is often taken, 
or as often killed, in the Feroe islands, between 
Iceland and the north of Scotland, where they are 
abundant, and is considered as the tyrant of the 
smaller birds. The Starlings are in such fear of it, that, 
when pursued, they will take shelter in a church or 
a house, and often seek refuge in the presence of 
men. They often escape by what is called a wind- 
house, a building made for drying meat or fish, the 
sides of which consist of laths placed at a very small 
distance from each other, just wide enough, however, 
to admit the body of a Starling, through which, when 
pursued, the frightened bird contrives to slip, leaving 
the lanner, eagerly following close behind, jammed 
quite fast between them. 
There is a Hawk called the -©ingtaii^ or Goshawk, 
( Falco palumb arius ) , now rare in England, though 
formerly plentiful, and much valued for hawking, 
which committed sad devastation amongst Partridges. 
Its mode of hunting was, to heat a field, and, when 
a covey was sprung, to fly after them, and observe 
V *'*"*'* 
/ 
M, 
