164 A DESCRIPTION OF 
life." He further observes, " that though the male was 
much smaller than the female, it was fiercer and more 
vicious." The Goshawk is found in France and Ger- 
many ; it is not very common in England, but it is more 
frequent in Scotland. In former times, the custom of 
carrying a Hawk or Falcon on the hand was confined to 
men of high distinction : so that it was a saying among 
the Welsh, " You may know a gentleman by his Hawk, 
horse, and greyhound." Even the ladies in those times were 
partakers of this gallant sport, and have been represented in 
pictures with Hawks on their hands. At present Hawking 
is almost entirely laid aside in this country. The expense 
attending this sport was very considerable, which con- 
fined it to princes and men of the highest rank. In the 
time of James the First, Sir Thomas Monson is said to 
have given a thousand pounds for a cast of Hawks. In 
the reign of Edward the Third it was made felony to 
steal a Hawk ; to take its eggs, even in a person's own 
grounds, was punishable with imprisonment for a year 
and a day, together with a fine at the king's pleasure. 
Such was the delight our ancestors took in this royal 
sport, and such were the means by which they endea- 
voured to secure it. The Falcons, or Hawks, chiefly used 
in these kingdoms, were the Goshawk, the Falcon, the 
Peregrine Falcon, Iceland Falcon, and the Ger Falcon. 
The game usually pursued were cranes, wild geese, phea- 
sants, and partridges. The Duke of St. Albans is still 
hereditary grand falconer of England, but the office is 
not now exercised, except for the Duke's own amuse- 
ment. 
