The ornithology of Francis Willughby of Middleton in the county of Warwick Esq, fellow of the Royal Society in three books : wherein all the birds hitherto known, being reduced into a method sutable to their natures, are accurately described : the descriptions illustrated by most elegant figures, nearly resembling the live birds, engraven in LXXVII copper plates : translated into English, and enlarged with many additions throughout the whole work : to which are added, Three considerable discourses, I. of the art of fowling, with a description of several nets in two large copper plates, II. of the ordering of singing birds, III. of falconry / by John Ray ...

CHAP. IX. Of long-winged Hawks, used to be reclaimed for fowling.

§. I. * 1.1 Of the Peregrine Falcon.

MR. Willughby having left no description of a Falcon, and it having not been our hap since his decease to see any Hawk of that kind, lest the Ornithology we set out should be defective and imperfect in this particular, we have bor∣rowed of Aldrovandus the descriptions of the several sorts of Falcons without omit∣ting any. We are not a little troubled that we cannot give any light to this * 1.2 Genus: For we vehemently suspect, that Species are here multiplied without necessity.

Aldrovandus assigns the first place to the Peregrine Falcon for its courage and gene∣rosity. It took its name either from passing out of one Country into another, or be∣cause it is not known where it builds, its Nest having not been any where found. Of * 1.3 this kind Belisarius makes two Species, Carcanui four, the difference being taken from the colour.

A Peregrine Falcon every way compleat must have these marks, Broad and thick shoulders; long Wings reaching to the end of the Train; the Train long, narrower * 1.4 by little and little, and sharper toward the end, like a Sparrow-hawks, made up of large, thick, round feathers, the tip not altogether white; the shafts running along the middle of the feathers of a lovely red; the Feet of the same colour with those * 1.5 of a Bittour, viz. of a pale green, or between a yellow and lead-colour; the Toes * 1.6 slender; the Talons large, black, and very sharp; the colour of the Feet and Beak the same; the Thighs long, but the Legs short; the Beak thick; the Mouth wide; * 1.7 the Nares large and open; the Eye-brows high and great; the Eyes great, and deep sunk; the Head arched, the Crown being gently elevated and round. As soon as it can fly it should shew certain little bristly feathers, standing out as it were a beard. Let the Neck be long, the Breast broad, and about the Shoulder-blades where it * 1.8 joyns to the Neck somewhat round. Sitting upon the Fist it must bend its body a little backward, being brisk, mordacious and greedy. Let its Eye-brows and Cheeks * 1.9 be white with a little mixture or dash of red: The Eyes black, encompassed with a * 1.10 Circle or Iris that is sometimes blue; the Head ash-coloured, like that of a Sacre: The Back of somewhat a livid colour, almost like that of a Goose; covered with * 1.11 round and broad feathers. The marks of the Wings agree to the second Peregrine Falcon of Belisarius, which he makes to be of a Copper [Aeneo] colour. For the first kind, which he saith is blacker, hath neither an ash-coloured Crown, nor a yel∣low; and hath its throat spotted with long, direct, black lines; and its Thighs marked with transverse ones: Its Legs also are of a Saffron colour, but more dilute.

Aldrovandus describes a Bird of this kind, taken in the Mountains of the Terri∣tory * 1.12 of Bononia, in these words. From the top of the Head to the end of the Tail it was seventeen Inches long. The Crown of the head flat and compressed: The Beak an Inch thick, of a lovely sky-colour, bending downward with a sharp hook, short, strong, joyned to the head with a yellow Membrane of a deep colour, which compasses the Nosthrils; the Eye blue, the edges of the Eye-lids round yellow. The * 1.13 Head, Neck, Back, Wings of a dark brown, almost black, sprinkled with black * 1.14 spots in almost every feather, the great feathers being crossed with transverse ones.

The Throat was of a yellowish white, the lower part thereof being stained with * 1.15 black spots, as it were drops drawn out in length from the corners of the Mouth on each side a black line was drawn downwards almost to the middle of the Throat or Gullet. The Breast, Belly, and Thighs white, crossed with broad, transverse, black lines. The tips of the Wings, when closed, reached almost to the end of the Train. The Train * 1.16 less dusky, marked also with black cross bars. The Legs and Feet yellow; the Thighs long, the Shanks short; the Toes slender, long, covered with scales, as are also * 1.17 the Legs; the Talons black, and very sharp. * 1.18

Aldrovandus thinketh this black Peregrine Falcon not to differ at all from the black Falcon simply so called, or the Falconarius of the Germans, but to be the very same with it.

What Aldrovandus hath concerning the place, flight, conditions, manner of catch∣ing this Hawk, &c. See in his *Ornithology. It flies and preys upon Geese, Ducks, and other Water-fowl.

§. II. * The Sacre, Falco Sacer.

ALdrovandus brings several descriptions of the Sacre out of Albertus Magnus, Be∣lisarius, the Emperour Frederick, Carcanus and Bellonius. The Emperour Frede∣ricks * 1.19 description (which to me seems better than that of Albertus) is as follows.

Sacres for bigness of body approach to Jer-Falcons; being greater than other Fal∣cons, but lesser than Jer-Falcons. They have a great round head: A shorter Beak, a slenderer and longer body in proportion, longer Wings, and also a longer Train, a Breast less fleshy and full in respect of their body than Jer-Falcons: And also shorter Toes.

Bellonius thus briefly describes it. The Sacre hath fouler feathers to look upon than * 1.20 any other Bird of prey. For they are of a colour between red and * 1.21 fuliginous, very like to Kites. It hath short Legs and blue Toes.

Carcanus the Vicentine gives a fuller description of it in these words. The Falcons * 1.22 called Sacres are bigger than even the larger Peregrines. Their head is very grey; their Crown flat, and like to that of a fork-tail'd Kite. Their Eyes black and great: * 1.23 Their Beak blue; their Nares for the most part small: The figure of the body ob∣long: The spots of the Breast brown, as is also the back and upper side of the Wings: The inside of the Thighs white; the Train long and varied with semicircular spots, resembling the figure of Guiny Beans or Kidneys: The Wings also large and long. The Legs and Feet are almost wholly blue: Compared with the rest of the body not very great. Those of one year commonly called Sores differ a little from those that have mewed their feathers. For these have the spots of their Breasts a little blacker and rounder than the Sores. Their Feet also are somewhat white, and in some spotted with a little yellow. Almost all of them have their Backs reddish, inclining to cine∣reous, as in Turtles. Yet in some, as well of the Sores as of those that have mewed their feathers, the Back and upper side of the Wings is black.

Which of these descriptions agrees best to the Sacre let them judge who have op∣portunity of seeing this Bird, and will, and leisure to compare them with it.

So great is the strength, force, and courage of this Hawk, that (as Albertus reports) there is no Bird so great which she doth not presently strike down: And not only one at a time, but as many as come in her way. She catches also Fawns, Kids, &c. She is supposed to be called Sacre, either from her bigness, or because all other birds fear her, and fly from her.

§. III. * The Jer-Falcon, whose Male or Tarcel is called the Jerkin.

IT seem to take its name from the High Dutch word Gyrfalc, i. e. a ravenous Falcon, * 1.24 or Vulturine Falcon: for Gyr in High Dutch signifies a Vulture.

This, however Aldrovandus contradicts it, exceeds all other Falcons, even that * 1.25 called the Sacre in magnitude. Of that which Aldrovandus described this was the shape: The Crown was plainand depressed, of an ash-colour. The Beak thick, strong, * 1.26 short, blue; bowed downward with a mean-sized hook, but very sharp, strong, and blewish. The Pupil of the Eyes very black, the Iris or Circle encompassing the * 1.27 Pupil blue. The Back, Wings, Belly, and Train were white: But the feathers of * 1.28 the Back and Wings were almost every one marked with a black spot, imitating in some measure the figure of a heart, like the Eyes in a Peacocks tail. The flag-feathers of the Wings near their tips beautified with a bigger and longer black mark, which is yet enclosed with a white margin or border. The Wings very long, so that they * 1.29 wanted but little of reaching to the end of the Tail. The Throat, Breast, and Bel∣ly purely white, without any spots at all. The Tail not very long, yea, in respect of its body and those of other Falcons rather short, marked with transverse black bars. The Legs and Feet of a delayed blue. The Legs thick and strong. The Toes long, * 1.30 strong, broad-spread, covered all over with a continued Series of board-like Scales.

Of Gyrfalcons, according to Carcanus, there be divers kinds, distinguished by the colours of their feathers.

Frederick the Emperour doth thus describe the shape of a good Jer-Falcon. The * 1.31 upper part of the Head must not be raised upward into a bunch, but every where equal: The forepart of the Head large and broad; that part also above the Eyes large: The Eye-brows high or standing out [eminentia.] The Eyes hollow: The Nosthrils great and open: The Beak thick, crooked, and hard: The Neck toward the Head slender, toward the shoulders thick. The Body must grow uniformly nar∣rower and sharp all along to the very Tail, observing that form which Geometricians call Pyramidal. It must have Wings elevated toward the back, not hanging down, but when gathered up, near the Tail so lying one upon the other, that they intersect one another in form of a Cross. The beam-feathers of the Wings, as well those that * 1.32 cover, as those that are covered, that is, as well the upper as the under ones must be broad and hard. The covering feathers by how much the more they cover the others, by so much the more commendable are they. The Tail-feathers when it doth not fly * 1.33 are gathered up in a lump under the two uppermost [that is, the middlemost] which are called the coverers. The Gullet [Gula, I suppose he means the Craw] must be * 1.34 large and deep, and after much meat taken in, swell a little, and be round when full of meat: The Breast prominent outward, fleshy, and thick. The Thighs great: The * 1.35 Legs short and thick: The soles of the Feet also thick and large; the Toes long, lean, * 1.36 rough, scaly, and well spread: The Talons slender, crooked, and sharp.

It is a couragious, fierce, and very bold Bird, catching all sorts of Fowl how great * 1.37 soever, and is terrible to other Falcons and Goshawks. It chief Game are Cranes and Herons.

§. IV. * The Mountain Falcon.

THe greatest part of these Falcons are of a mean stature: Few found very big: Many of a small body, and that in some round, in some long. Albertus attri∣butes to a Mountain Falcon almost the same bigness as to a Goshawk [Asturi] only makes it shorter bodied: Gives it a round Breast, and when it stands on its feet a * 1.38 Pyramidal figure, resembling a Pyramid somewhat compressed on that side the back makes. Almost all of them have a round Head, a taper [fastigiatum] Crown, and * 1.39 black, encompassed with a kind of ash-coloured Coronet: In the Forehead, not far from the Beak, stand up certain very fine and slender feathers, as it were hairs, among the black or brown ones, which yet are but few, and in some Birds none at all. They have a thick, short, black Bill; narrow Nosthrils; small Eyes and Eye-lids. The * 1.40

Throat as far as the breast-bone is somewhat whitish, besprinkled with good great * 1.41 spots. The rest of the Breast is beautified with certain marks, which are sometimes ferrugineous, sometimes red, sometimes blackish, and besides these with other smal∣ler specks. In some the Throat and Breast are cloathed with black feathers; the in∣side * 1.42 of the Thighs black: The Back and Loins covered for the most part with small brown feathers: Some of which below the middle of the back have certain whitish or reddish lines tending downwards. Others have their Backs purely ash-coloured, or of the colour of that sort of Wild Goose, which the Vicentines call Baletta: The Wings not long like a Peregrines: The Tail also shorter than theirs, and for the grea∣ter * 1.43 part variegated like that of a Kestrel. There are some whose Tail is like that of a Sacre, but they are very rare. They have for the most part their Legs and Feet of a * 1.44 Saffron colour; but some of a straw colour; and covered with very thick-set Scales. Their Feet are lesser than the Peregrines: Their Toes great and fleshy: Their Talons black. It is easier to know them after they are mewed. Their Head is black like a * 1.45 Crows, their Nosthrils covered with a Saffron-coloured skin; the Eyes also encom∣passed with a Circle of like colour: Their Neck and Shoulders black; the lower part of the Back toward the Rump blue. The Throat as far as the Breast-bone white; but in some it shews an obscure red; in others it is blackish, in all marked with round spots. The Train short and black: The feathers investing the Thighs brown. The Legs strong. It is to be observed, that by how much the oftner they have mewed their feathers, by so much is their Throat [Gula] whiter, and its spots smaller, and the feathers covering their Back and Loins of a deeper blue.

Tardivus writes, that it preys only upon great birds, neglecting the smaller; that it is very ravenous, mordacious, and of an indocile nature. Aldrovandus describes * 1.46 a bird of this sort that was brought to him, in these words. It was eighteen Inches long: The Head great, the Crown gently towring up round: The Beak thick, short, black, strong; of an Inch thickness, the point of the hooked part not very sharp, but it strong; so that I doubt whether any other Falcon hath a stronger, thicker, and more strongly made and compacted Beak than this. The Nares are compassed with a * 1.47 yellow membrane, The Iris of the Eye of a deep black. The edges of the Eye∣lids encircling the Eyes yellow. The whole body in general is of one colour, viz. a * 1.48 cinereous tending to blue, lighter or darker, according to the different exposing of the parts to the light. The Neck, Breast, Belly, and Back, and consequently the whole * 1.49 body is very gross, thick, round, and plump. The Breast very round and great: The beginning of the Wings above broad, and less sharp than in other Falcons; their tips reaching to about the middle of their Trains, or a little further. The Train of a middle size, between long and short. Their Legs and Feet in respect of their bo∣dies not very large or thick, covered with Saffron-coloured board-like Scales. Their Talons deep-black.

§. V. * The Falcon Gentle.

WHereas I find that some doubt, whether the * 1.50 Gentile Falcon be a distinct kind from the Peregrine or no: And whereas the Emperour Frederick di∣stinguishes Gentile Falcons into those absolutely and simply so called, and Peregrines; omitting that prolix description of a Gentile Falcon, which Aldrovandus brings out of Frederick; I shall only propound the marks whereby this is said to differ from the Peregrine.

Gentile Falcons are less than Peregrines, have a rounder and lesser Head; a shorter * 1.51 Beak; and Feet also for the proportion of the body smaller. Besides, the colour is less bright, lively, and fair in these than in those. When they have mewed their first feathers, they become very like the Peregrines, but more spotted in their Trains and Backs.

Belisarius makes the only difference between the Gentile and Peregrine Falcon to be in their manner or gesture in flying: For the frequent agitation of the Wings in flying shews the Hawk to be a Gentile Falcon: The motion of the Peregrines Wings being like that of the Oars of Gallies. Moreover, they differ from Peregrines in this, that they are not so swift. * 1.52

Aldrovandus thinks, that the Falcon which Carcanus calls the Dutch or German Fal∣con is the same with this: The which he thus describes. The Dutch Falcons are almost

all great-bodied. The greater part of them of an oblong figure, and some mode∣rately round: Very like to the Peregrine for Shape, Head, Beak, and Feet. The Thighs on the inside covered with white feathers. The Wings great: The Train long. Almost all the feathers are of a brown colour. For the greatest part of their bodies they are like a brown Peregrine, excepting the Head and Shoulder-blades, which in the Dutch are a little blacker. A white Coronet encompasses their Head near the Neck. The spots of the breast in most are brown and great, in some ferrugineous and oblong. But in such as are mewed, that is, have cast their first feathers, the Head, Neck and Shoulders are brown; the Back of an Azure-colour, distinguished with transverse brown marks: The Throat white, spotted with great lines. The Breast darker than in the Peregrine: But the Feet like that of the Peregrine. The Males or * 1.53 Tarcels of these Dutch Falcons can by no means be distinguished from the Males of the Peregrines, they are in all things so like the one to the other. Besides, they do so resemble the Peregrines, not only in the external shape of their bodies, but also in their nature and conditions; that none but a very quick-sighted, cuming, and well practised Falconer is able to distinguish them.

§. VI. * The Haggard Falcon; Falco gibbosus.

IT is so called because by reason of the shortness of the Neck, the Head scarce ap∣pears above the points of the shoulders, or Wings withdrawn and clapped to the sides of the Back; so that it seems to have a bunch on its back. The Germans call it Ein Hagerfalck, or rather Hogerfalck, whence the Latine name Gibbosus: For the Germans call a bunch Hoger. Our English Writers of Falconry, as far as I understand them, call the Peregrine Falcon the Haggard Falcon, using those names promiscuously: Wherefore we shall not enlarge further concerning this Hawk; especially seeing what Aldrovandus hath of it, is all taken out of Albertus Magnus; on whose credit we do not much rely.

§. VII. * The white Falcon. Falco Albus.

OMitting again what Aldrovandus hath borrowed out of Albertus concerning the White Falcon: we will only transcribe out of him, the description of the Fal∣con sent him by his Nephew Julianus Griffonius, which he received from Angelus Gal∣lus of Urbin, a Knight of Malta.

Its whole body was milk-white, only spotted with yellow spots, the which them∣selves * 1.54 also appeared white, unless one heedfully and intently beheld it. The Wings were like those of other the most beautiful Hawks, but purely white, and without spots. The Tail had twelve feathers alike white, and spotted with yellow; the sight * 1.55 whereof the uppermost feather (which was wholly white, and covered the rest, hiding them as it were in a sheath) took away. The Beak also was rather white than * 1.56 blue. The Feet, after the manner of other Hawks, yellow. The Eyes yellow and * 1.57 black: And that yellow nothing deeper than in a Hawk not yet mew'd, which we commonly call a Sore; although I cannot believe that this was a Sore. For it might so come to pass, that it might retain that yellowness from a certain temper of body peculiar to this kind: Otherwise it would, after it was mewed, necessarily incline to whiteness. It was of a tall stature, a great and stately bird: It eat not but with its Eyes usually shut, and that with great greediness. It killed Pullets.

§. VIII. * The Stone-Falcon, and Tree-Falcon. Falco Lapidarius & Arborarius.

OF the figure of the Stone-Falcon these few things occur in Albertus Magnus. It was of a middle quantity and strength between the Peregrine and Gibbose or Haggard Falcon.

A full description of the Tree-Falcon we have in Gesner, which (as Mr. Willughby thinks) agrees well to the Hobby. The Tree-Falcon (saith he) is a gallant and gene∣rous

bird, not unlike to a Sparrow-Hawk. From the Bill to the end of the Tail it was four Palms, or sixteen Inches long. The Feet were of a pale colour, mixt as it were * 1.58 of yellowish and green. The Back black: But the tips of the feathers of the Head and Back (especially the lower part of it) were compassed with reddish Semicircles. The feathers of the Wings were blacker: And the inside of the Wings [that which is toward the body] spotted with great pale-red spots. The Breast varied with whitish and brown spots. Certain yellowish white feathers made up spots behind the Ears, and in the Neck. The Eyes were black; the colour of the Bill blue. The Tail-fea∣thers, * 1.59 all but the two middlemost, marked with spots.

§. IX. * The Tunis or Barbary Falcon.

THis Bellonius describes thus: This Barbary Falcon is large, approaching to the shape and likeness of a Lanner. For it hath like feathers, and not unlike Feet; but it is lesser-bodied. Besides it flies more, and keeps longer on the Wing. It hath a thick and round Head. It is good for Brook-hawking, and stoutly soars on high in the Air: But for the Field it is not so fit as the Lanner.

The Falcon which our Falconers call the Barbary is lesser than the rest of this kind, viz. The Peregrine, Mountain and Gentile: If those do specifically differ, which we do not think.

§. X. * The Red Falcon.

IT is called red, not because it is all over red, but because those spots (which in the rest are white) in this kind are red and black, but not so disposed as in others, neither in the Back, nor in the outward part of the Wing. But it doth not appear to be red, but only when it stretches out its Wings: For then the dark red shews it self in them. It is said to be lesser than a Peregrine Falcon. But this, and whatever else Al∣bertus and others have delivered concerning the red Falcon, are of that nature, that they leave us altogether uncertain, whether there be any such Falcon or no, specifical∣ly distinct from the rest of this kind.

§. XI. * The red Indian Falcons of Aldrovandus.

THe first of these (which we suppose to be the Female) hath a greater head than * 1.60 the latter, a broad and almost flat Crown, without any rising in the hinder part of the head, as is seen in some. The head is of an ash-colour tending to brown, as is also the Neck, the whole Back, and the outside of the Wings. The Beak very thick; next the Head both above and below all yellow; having a moderate ash-co∣loured * 1.61 hook; of which colour is also all that fore-part which is bare, beyond the Sear or investing Membrane. The Pupil of the Eye is of a deep black; the Iris brown, or of a dark Chesnut-colour. The edges of the Eye-lids round about yel∣low. * 1.62 From the exteriour and lesser corner of the Eyes on both sides is drawn a long stroak of the same colour with the Breast. The whole Breast, and also the upper part * 1.63 of the inside of the Wings, the Belly moreover and the Rump, the Hips and Thighs are all fulvous or red, of a pale Vermilion colour. But the Chin in this red colour * 1.64 is marked with a long cinereous spot, produced downwards. The Breast also be∣fore is besprinkled with small scattering specks of the same colour. The sides, that are covered with the middle part of the Wings closed, are tinctured with the same dark cinereous colour. The Wings are very long, their tips reaching much further * 1.65 than the middle of the Tail; crossing one another about the lower end of the Back. The Train is long, each feather whereof is varied with alternate spaces of black * 1.66 (which are the narrower, of a Semicircular figure) and of ash-colour, which are the broader. The Legs and Feet are yellow, pretty thick and strong: The Talons * 1.67 black and very sharp.

The other (which we believe to be the Male) is less by near a third part; for va∣riety * 1.68 of colours almost the same with the former; and those in the same parts, save that (as we hinted also before) the red colour in this is deeper and more evident: Likewise the same coloured Membrane as in the former [I suppose he means that about the Eyes.] Those parts also which in the former are coloured with a dark cinere∣ous, in this are altogether black; viz. the upper side of the Wings, the Head, Back, and Tail. Yet may we take notice of some marks peculiar to this, wherein it differs * 1.69 from the other. For the Bill in this is wholly blue, excepting a small yellow mem∣brane covering the Nosthrils, having uneven borders, as it were serrate. The Chin or beginning of the Throat in this is of a little paler red, something inclining to cine∣reous, but not marked with any spot as in the former. The interiour flag-feathers of the Wings are white, only crossed at due intervals with many transverse brown marks: * 1.70 The rest of the upper side of the Wings is of a very deep fulvous colour, like red Oker. The upper side of the Tail is also adorned with a double variety of transverse * 1.71 spots, to wit, white and ash-coloured inclining to blue, alternately disposed. The Feet and Legs are of a more dilute, yellow, or Wax colour. * 1.72

Both came out of the East-Indies.

What is delivered by Albertus and others concerning the blue-footed Falcon and ba∣stard Falcon I omit, as being only general and uncertain; referring the curious, and those that desire to know such things, to the Authors themselves, or to Aldrovandus, for satisfaction.

We have a sort of bastard Hawk common enough among us, called the Boccarel, and its Tarcel the Boccaret.

§. XII. The Crested Indian Falcon.

THis Bird brought out of the East-Indies we saw in the Royal Aviary in St. James * 1.73 Park near Westminster, and thus described it. For bigness it was not much inferiour to a Goshawk: The Head flat, black, copped, the Crest hanging down back∣ward from the hind part of the head, like a Lapwings, but forked. The Neck red. The Breast and Belly were parti-coloured of black and white, the alternate cross * 1.74 lines being very bright and fair. The Irides of the Eyes yellow. The Beak of a deep or dark blue, almost black, especially towards the point; for the Base was co∣vered with a yellow Membrane. The Legs feathered down to the Feet: The Feet * 1.75 yellow; the Talons of a dark black. The lesser rows of Wing-feathers had whitish edges. The Train was varied with transverse spaces or beds of black and cinereous alternately. The rest of the feathers were black.

§. XIII. * The Lanner, whose Tarcel is called the Lanneret.

Bellonius his description of it.

THe Lanner is less than the Gentile Falcon, adorned with fair feathers, and in that * 1.76 respect more beautiful than the Sacre. The most sure and undoubted notes whereby one may distinguish a Lanner from other Hawks are these; That it have blue Beak, Legs, and Feet: The anteriour or Breast-feathers parti-coloured of black and white, the black marks [or lines] not crossing the feathers, but drawn long-ways down the middle of them, contrary to what they are in Falcons. The feathers of the back are not much variegated, as neither those of the Wings or Tail, in the upper or * 1.77 external part. And if perchance there be any spots seen in these, they are small, round, and whitish. But to one that shall view the lower or under side of the Wings extended there will appear marks of a different figure from those of other Rapacious Birds: For they are round, and like little pieces of money, dispersed through the Superficies: Although, as we said, the feathers of the Breast, and forepart of the bo∣dy are varied with spots drawn downwards in length, and situate on their edges. It hath a thick and short Neck, and a like Bill. The Male or Lanneret is of a lesser bo∣dy, but almost the same colour of the feathers. Both Male and Female have shorter * 1.78 Legs than the rest of the Falcons.

Carcanus his description differs in some things from this of Bellonius, which we shall therefore subjoyn. The Head of all Lanners is wholly yellow, with a flat * 1.79 Crown. The Eyes black and great: The Nosthrils for the most part small: The Beak short and thick, lesser than that of a Peregrine Falcon, and also than that of a Mountain; of a blue colour; The Breast yellow, spotted with a few thin-set ferru∣gineous spots: The Back like a Peregrine Falcons: The ends of the Wings spotted as it were with round white Eyes. The Wings and Train long: The Legs short. The Feet much lesser than a Peregrines, and blue of colour. In those that are mewed the whole head is tinctured with yellow as far as the shoulders, but inclining to red, and varied with certain slender lines. The Back is blue, crossed with black lines and some golden: The Breast of a deep yellow and without any spots. But the feathers of the Thighs are varied with a few cross lines. The feet in these, which were blue, are changed into yellow. The Sores of this kind are very hardly distinguished from those that are mewed.

It seems to be called Lanarius à laniando, i. e. from tearing. It is of a gentle nature, * 1.80 of a docile and tractable disposition (as Bellonius writes) very fit for all sorts of Game, as well Waterfowl, as Land: For it catches not only Pies, Quails, Partridge, Crows, Pheasants, &c. but also Ducks, yea, and Cranes too, being trained up thereto by humane industry. All this is to be understood of the French Lanner, for the Italian described by Carcanus is of no worth or use. Carcanus writes, that he could never so train them up, as to make them good for ought.

The Lanner abides all the year in France, being seen there as well in Winter as in * 1.81 Summer, contrary to the manner of other Rapacious Birds.

§. XIV. The Hobby, Subbuteo, Aldrov.

THe Bird we described was a Female, and weighed nine ounces. The length * 1.82 from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail was thirteen Inches. The breadth or distance between the tips of the Wings extended two feet and eight * 1.83 Inches. From the tip of the Beak to the Nosthrils was something more than half an Inch. The Beak like that of a Kestrel: The upper Mandible prominent, hooked, * 1.84 semicircular; the Base covered with a yellow skin or Sear, the part next the skin white; the rest of a dark blue. It hath also a tooth or Angle on each side at the begin∣ning of the hooked part, which is received in a hollow dent or nick in the lower Chap. The Tongue broad and a little cleft or divided. The Palate withinside * 1.85 black, and having a Cavity impressed to receive the Tongue. The Nosthrils round: * 1.86 The Irides of the Eyes of a Hazel colour: The Eye-lids yellow.

As for the colour of the Plumage; above each Eye passed a line of a clay-colour, * 1.87 [ex ruffo albicans.] The feathers on the top of the head had their shafts or middle part black, their borders of a deep Chesnut: Those on the middle of the Neck again were of a clay-colour, the back and Wings of a dark brown, or cinereous black; those on the Rump and the lesser Pinion feathers being lighter, the greater Pinion feathers, and those on the middle of the back darker. The Chin and upper part of the Throat were white, with a dash of yellow. * 1.88 To this white were drawn from the head on each side two lines; one from the aperture of the mouth, the other from the hinder part or noddle.

The lower part of the Belly was reddish, the rest of the Belly and Breast clothed with feathers, spotted with black in the middle, and having their edges white. The Thighs red, spotted with black, but the spots less than those on the Breast. The num∣ber * 1.89 of prime feathers in each Wing twenty four, whereof the second the longest. The extreme or outmost had their tips black; all of them their interiour webs varied with transverse clay-coloured spots. The covert-feathers of the underside of the Wings were black, curiously painted with round spots of white diluted with red.

The Tail, as in all of this kind, consisted of twelve feathers, the middlemost * 1.90 whereof were the longest, and the rest in order shorter to the two outermost, which were the shortest. The length of the middlemost was about five Inches and an half, these were on both sides their shafts of one and the same colour; the rest had their interiour Vanes marked with transverse reddish spots; the utmost tips being whitish.

The Legs and Feet were yellow: The middle and outmost Toes connected as in * 1.91 others of this kind to the first joynt: The Talons as black as Jet.

It had a great Gall: The length of the Guts was two foot lacking an inch: The * 1.92 Appendices or blind Guts short; besides which it had another single Appendix or process, which was (we suppose) the remainder of the Ductus intestinalis shrunk up.

The Hobby is a bird of passage, yet breeds with us in England. Its Game is chiefly * 1.93 Larks, for the catching of which Birds our Fowlers make use of it thus. The Spa∣niels range the field, to find the birds: The Hobby they let off, and accustom to soar aloft in the Air over them. The Larks espying their capital enemy, dare by no means make use of their Wings, but lie as close and flat upon the ground as they can; and so are easily taken in the Nets they draw over them. This kind of sport is called, Da∣ring * 1.94 of Larks.

To catch these Hawks, the Fowlers take a Lark, and having blinded her, and fast∣ned * 1.95 Lime-twigs to her Legs, let her fly where they see the Hobby is, which striking at the Lark is entangled with the Lime-twigs.

The Bird is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, the lesser 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or Buteo; * 1.96 which Pliny renders in Latine, Subbuteo. It is called in English, Hobby, after the French name.

§. XV. The Kestrel, Stannel, or Stonegall, in Latine Tinnunculus or Cenchris.

THe Female is about the bigness of a Pigeon. That we described weighed nine * 1.97 ounces. Its length from the point of the Beak to the end of the Train was fourteen inches and a quarter: Its breadth, or the distance between the tips of the Wings extended two foot and an half. The Beak short, prominent, hooked, and * 1.98 sharp-pointed: The Base of the upper Chap covered with a skin or membrane, in which are the Nosthrils. The middle part of the Beak next the Sear is white, the rest of a dark blue: Where it begins to bend it hath a Tooth or Angle, which is received in a dent or cavity in the lower Chap. The Nosthrils round: The Tongue cleft: * 1.99 The Eye-lids yellow; the Eyes defended by prominent brows. It hath a wide mouth, and the Palate blue.

The Head is great; the Crown broad and flat, inclining to an ash-colour, and * 1.100 marked with narrow black lines along the shaft of each feather. The back, shoulders, and covert-feathers of the upper side of the Wings ferrugineous, marked with black * 1.101 spots, viz. each feather being reddish hath a black spot toward the tip. The Rump is cinereous, having the like transverse black spots. The lower or nether side of the * 1.102 body, that is the Breast and Belly, was of a paler red or ferrugineous, varied with black lines drawn downwards along the shafts of the feathers. The Chin and lower belly without spots.

The flag-feathers of the Wing are in number twenty four: The exteriour of which * 1.103 are of a brown or dusky colour, but their interiour Vanes are partly of a reddish white, indented with the brown like the teeth of a Saw. The six or seven next to the body are red, having their interiour Vanes marked with transverse brown stroaks. The inner or under side of the Wing is white, with black spots.

The Train made up of twelve feathers was above seven inches long. The outmost * 1.104 feathers shortest, the rest in order gradually longer to the middlemost. The utmost tips of the feathers were of a rusty white. Then succeeds a black bar or ring of an inch broad; the rest of the feather being of a rusty ash-colour, marked with trans∣verse black spots.

The Legs and Feet are of a lovely yellow, and the Talons black. * 1.105

It had a Gall. In the stomach we found Beetles and fur of Mice. The length of the Guts was twenty eight Inches. The single blind gut [Appendix intestinalis] was twice as long as the lower Appendices or blind Guts. The Male or Tarcel differs * 1.106 from the Female chiefly in being less, and having the head and back of an ash-colour.

Kestrels are wont commonly with us in England to be reclaimed and trained up for fowling, after the manner of other Rapacious birds. They catch not only small birds, * 1.107 but also young Partridge.

They build in hollow Oaks and other trees; and that not after the manner of * 1.108 Crows, upon the boughs, but after the manner of Jackdaws, always in holes, as Tur∣ner saith he himself observed. Aristotle makes the Kestrel the most fruitful or best breeder among Birds of prey; yet neither doth she (saith he) lay more Eggs than four at once. Her Eggs are whitish, all over stained very thick with red spots, whence Aristotle and Pliny write, that they are red like Vermilion: Indeed, they deserve ra∣ther to be called red than white.

It is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, signifying Millet, as if one should say the Millet∣bird, * 1.109 for the same reason as Gesner thinks, that a kind of Tetter [the Swine-pox] is called Herpes miliaris, because it is marked or motled with specks like Millet seed.

This Bird is by some called the Wind-hover, of which name we have elsewhere gi∣ven an account.

§. XVI. The Merlin, called in Latine Aesalon.

BEllonius hath recorded that the Merlin is the least of all those birds our Falconers * 1.110 use for hawking; and truly, if we except only the Matagesse or great Butcher∣bird (which is sometimes reclaimed for small birds) so it is. It is not much bigger than a Black bird. The length from the tip of the Bill to the end of the Tail in that we * 1.111 described was fourteen Inches, to the end of the Toes twelve and an half. The Beak was blue, and had an angular Appendix or tooth on each side: The Irides of the * 1.112 Eyes of a hazel colour: The back and upper part were particoloured of a dark blue and a ferrugineous: The shaft and middle part of the feathers of the Head and Wings were black, the edges blue: The flag-feathers of the Wings black with ferrugineous spots. The Train sive inches long, of a dark brown or blackish, with transverse * 1.113 white bars: Of these black and white spaces were fourteen in all in the Female; in the Male or Tarcel but ten. The Breast and Belly were of a rusty white, with brown spots, not transverse, but tending downwards from the Head toward the Tail. The Legs were long, slender, and yellow: The Talons black. Below the Head it had a ring of yellowish white, encircling the Head like a Coronet. In the older Birds the back grows bluer as in other Falcons.

In the Males the feathers on the Rump next the Tail are bluer. By which note and * 1.114 their bigness Falconers discern the Sex. For the Female in this, as in other birds of prey, is greater than the Male, being for colour less red, with a certain mixture of blue. In the Train of the Male we described were only five cross pale-red bars (as we said before) the intermediate black spaces being broader. The Train was five Inches long, the whole bird thirteen.

The Merlin, though the least of Hawks, yet for spirit and mettle (as Albertus * 1.115 truly writes) gives place to none. It strikes Partridge on the Neck, with a fatal stroke, killing them in an instant. No Hawk kills her prey so soon. They fly also Heath-pouts with it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Family or kind.
• * 1.2

  Family or kind.
• * 1.3

  Its Name.
• * 1.4

  Its Shoulders, Wings, Train.
• * 1.5

  The Feet,
• * 1.6

  Toes, Talons,
• * 1.7

  Thighs, Beak, Nares, Eyes, Head.
• * 1.8

  Its Neck, Breast,
• * 1.9

  Brows,
• * 1.10

  Eyes. Head,
• * 1.11

  Back.
• * 1.12

  The black Pe∣regrin Falcon of Aldrovand. Its Length, Head, Beak,
• * 1.13

  Eyes,
• * 1.14

  Colour,
• * 1.15

  The Throat,
• * 1.16

  Wings. Tail,
• * 1.17

  Legs, and Feet,
• * 1.18

  Talons.
• * 1.19

  Fredericks de∣scription of the Sacre.
• * 1.20

  Bellonius his description.
• * 1.21

  Sooty.
• * 1.22

  Carcanus his description. Their bigness,
• * 1.23

  Head, Eyes, Beak, Nares, Figure, Colour, Train, Wings, Legs. How the Sores differ from those that are mewed.
• * 1.24

  The name.
• * 1.25

  Its Bigness,
• * 1.26

  Crown, Beak.
• * 1.27

  Eyes,
• * 1.28

  Colour of the feathers.
• * 1.29

  The Wings. Colour of the Breast. The Train.
• * 1.30

  Legs and Feet.
• * 1.31

  The shape of a good Jer∣falcon. Its Head, Forehead, Eyes, Nares, Beak, Neck, Body, Wings.
• * 1.32

  Wing-fea∣thers.
• * 1.33

  Train fea∣thers.
• * 1.34

  Craw.
• * 1.35

  Breast.
• * 1.36

  Legs, Feet, Talons.
• * 1.37

  Its Nature and Game.
• * 1.38

  Its figure,
• * 1.39

  Head,
• * 1.40

  Beak, Nares, Eyes,
• * 1.41

  The Throat, Breast,
• * 1.42

  Its Colour,
• * 1.43

  Wings. Tail.
• * 1.44

  Legs, and Feet,
• * 1.45

  Its colours when mewed.
• * 1.46

  Its conditions, and Game, Aldrovands grey Falcon. Its Head, Beak,
• * 1.47

  Nares, Eyes.
• * 1.48

  Colour,
• * 1.49

  Figure of the body.
• * 1.50

  Or Falcon Gentle.
• * 1.51

  How the Fal∣con Gentle differs from the Peregrine.
• * 1.52

  The descripti∣on of the German Fal∣con,
• * 1.53

  The German Falcon differs little or no∣thing from the Peregrine.
• * 1.54

  Its Colour, Wings,
• * 1.55

  Train,
• * 1.56

  Beak,
• * 1.57

  Feet, Eyes.
• * 1.58

  Its Length The Feet. The Colour.
• * 1.59

  The Eyes and Bill.
• * 1.60

  Its Head,
• * 1.61

  Beak,
• * 1.62

  Eyes.
• * 1.63

  Breast.
• * 1.64

  Chin.
• * 1.65

  Wings:
• * 1.66

  Train.
• * 1.67

  The Feet, and Talons,
• * 1.68

  The other red Falcon de∣scribed. Its Colour.
• * 1.69

  Its proper marks. Beak. Chin.
• * 1.70

  Wings.
• * 1.71

  Train.
• * 1.72

  Feet.
• * 1.73

  Its bigness, Head. Crest. Neck.
• * 1.74

  Breast. Beak.
• * 1.75

  Legs and Feet. Wings. Train.
• * 1.76

  The descri∣ption of the French Lan∣ner. The colour of the Beak, and Feet, Breast,
• * 1.77

  Back, Wings, Train.
• * 1.78

  The Male.
• * 1.79

  The Head, Crown, Eyes, Nosthrils, Beak, Breast, Back, Wings, Legs and Feet. The descripti∣on of those that are mewed.
• * 1.80

  Why called Lanarius. Its Nature and Game.
• * 1.81

  Its place.
• * 1.82

  Its Weight, Length,
• * 1.83

  Breadth,
• * 1.84

  Beak,
• * 1.85

  The Tongue.
• * 1.86

  Nosthrils. Eyes.
• * 1.87

  The colour of the feathers.
• * 1.88

  This white on the sides of the head is a Characteri∣stic note of this bird.
• * 1.89

  The prime Wing-fea∣thers.
• * 1.90

  The Train.
• * 1.91

  The Feet and Talons.
• * 1.92

  The Entrails.
• * 1.93

  Its principal Game.
• * 1.94

  Daring of Larks.
• * 1.95

  To catch Hobbies.
• * 1.96

  An account of the names.
• * 1.97

  Its bigness, Weight, Length, Breadth,
• * 1.98

  Beak,
• * 1.99

  Nosthrils. Tongue. Eyes. Mouth.
• * 1.100

  Head.
• * 1.101

  Colour of the back.
• * 1.102

  Colour of the nether side.
• * 1.103

  Prime Wing-feathers.
• * 1.104

  Its Train.
• * 1.105

  The Legs, and Talons. The Inwards.
• * 1.106

  How the Male differs from the Female.
• * 1.107

  Their Game.
• * 1.108

  Nest and Ge∣neration.
• * 1.109

  The Names.
• * 1.110

  Its Bigness.
• * 1.111

  Length and Breadth.
• * 1.112

  Beak. Eyes. The colour of the upper part, and Wings. The Train.
• * 1.113

  Pale-red or clay coloured. Colour of the lower side. The Legs and Talons,
• * 1.114

  How the Male or Tarcel differs from the Female.
• * 1.115

  The Merlin a mettled bird.