54 
DOCILITY OF T1IE FALCON. 
The eagle and iron,* 
The goshawk and tercel, &c. 
From this we may conclude that the name tercel- 
gentle was applied to the male peregrine, a long-winged 
hawk, to distinguish it from the tercel, or male goshawk, 
a short-winged hawk. 
The female falcon, from her greater size and strength, 
was always considered superior to the male—stronger in 
flight:— 
“ As confident as is the falcon’s flight 
Against a bird.” 
Richard II. Act i. Sc. 3. 
And possessing more powerful talons :— 
“ So doves do peck the falcon’s piercing talons.” 
Henry VI. Part III. Act i. Sc. 4. 
She was more easily trained, and capable of being flown 
at larger game. Hence Shakespeare asserts— 
“ The falcon as the tercel, for all the ducks i’ the river.” 
Troilus and Cressida , Act iii. Sc. 2. 
Sometimes we find the word “ tercel ” written “ tassel,” as 
in Romeo and Juliet (Act ii. Sc. 2) : — 
“ O, for a falconer’s voice, 
To lure this tassel-gentle back again ! ” 
* No doubt a corruption of “ erne," a name which is still given to the sea eagle 
(Aquila albicilla). 
