CHAPTER VII. 
THE GAME-BIRDS AND “ QUARRY ” FLOWN AT BY 
FALCONERS. 
AME-PRESERVING, as we now understand the term, 
was probably unknown in Shakespeare’s days, for 
sportsmen at that time had not the means of making such 
large bags, and consequently the necessity for breeding and 
rearing game artificially did not exist. Nature’s liberal 
supply sufficed to satisfy the moderate demand, and the 
sportsman always returned home well pleased. We 
take it, however, that this satisfaction resulted more from 
an appreciation of sport than from the possession of a 
heavy bag. What more enjoyable than the pursuit of 
partridges, “ with grey gos-hawk in hand,” as Chaucer 
hath it, or a flight at heron with a falcon ? 
The skill, too, which was required to kill a bird or 
rabbit with a single bolt from a cross-bow was far greater 
than that which is needed to achieve the same result 
with an ounce of shot from a breech-loader. Not that 
E E 
