INTRODUCTION. 
SHAKESPEARE’S GENERAL KNOWLEDGE OF NATURAL HISTORY. 
His Love of Sport.—Hawking.—Fishing.—Hunting.—Fowling.—Deer-Shoot¬ 
ing.—Deer-Stealing.— “The Subtle Fox” and “Timorous Hare.” — 
Coursing.—Coney-Catching.—Wild Animals mentioned by Shakespeare. 
—His Knowledge of their Habits.—Insects referred to in the Plays.— 
Shakespeare's Powers of Observation.—Practical Knowledge of Falconry. 
—Love of Birds.. 
CHAPTER I. 
THE EAGLE AND LARGER BIRDS OF PREY. 
An “Eagle Eye.” — Power of Flight.—A good Omen. — “The Bird of 
Jove.”—The Roman Eagle.—The “Ensign” of the Eagle—Habits and 
Attitudes.—Eagles’ Eggs.—Longevity of the Eagle: its Age computed. 
—The Eagle trained for Hawking.—The Vulture : its Repulsive Habits. 
—The Osprey: its Power over Fish.—The Kite.—The Kite’s Nest. — 
The Buzzard ............ 
CHAPTER II. 
HAWKS AND HAWKING. 
Explanation of Hawking Terms.—The Falcon and Tiercel.—The Qualities of 
a good Falconer.—The “Lure” and its Use.—The “Quarry.”—The 
Hawk’s “Trappings.” — Jesses, Bells, and Hood.—An Unmann’d Hawk. 
— The Cadge—The Hawk’s Mew.—The Royal Mews.—Origin of the 
word “Mews.”—Imping.—Howto “Seel” a Hawk.—A Haw r k for the 
