FALCONRY

a field sport popular among upper cla es during iddle Ages, and, though severely checked by civil wars of Charles I., still in existence. F. consists in hunting birds and small animals by means of falcons or hawks. These are either taken from the nest and trained (called eye es), or captured when full-grown and tamed (called pa age-hawks). When hunting bird is sufficiently trained, it is taken out hooded to the place where it is to be ‘entered at the quarry,’ when the hood is removed. Falcons are entered at winged game, hawks at winged and ground game. The females are more frequently used than the male, owing to their superior strength. When a falcon sights its quarry it rises to a height above it and ‘stoops’ upon it, while a hawk does not rise but flies in a straight line. After killing, the bird is called back by the ‘lure,’ hooded, and taken back. can or R.C. churches;,folding stool used