The laws which have been made in modern times for the preservation of game are not more severe than those instituted by our forefathers for the security of their hawks. In the 34th of Edward the Third it was made felony to steal a hawk; and to take its eggs, even in a person's own ground, was punishable with imprisonment for a year and a day, besides a fine at the king's pleasure: in the reign of Queen Elizabeth the imprisonment was reduced to three months, but the offender was to find security for his good behaviour for seven years, or to remain in prison till he could find a friend who would be answerable for his conduct. Falconry appears to have been of great antiquity in the eastern parts of the globe, since our earliest accounts of China notice the practice of this art in that country. Marco Polo, who visited China in the year 1269, tells us, that he witnessed the emperor enjoying this diversion attended by his grand falconer, and a thousand subordinate persons in his train; and that the emperor often carried a hawk on his hand to let fly at any game which might present itself, which were usually pheasants, partridges, cranes, or quails. It is generally supposed that this mode of hunting originated in Scythia, and that it passed from thence to the northern parts of Europe. Tartary is even at present celebrated for its fine breed of falcons; and the sport is in such general esteem, that, according to Olearius, there was no hut but what had its eagle or falcon; for even the king of birds may be trained to hunt, and they have frequently been used for the chase of the roebuck, the antelope, the wolf, the fox, and other animals that are fleet of foot. Such is the swiftness of the stronger kinds of the feathered race, that it is recorded of a falcon belonging to a Duke of Cleve, that it flew out of Westphalia into Prussia in one day; and in the county of Norfolk a hawk has made a flight at a woodcock near thirty miles in an hour. Scaliger asserts, that he saw a falcon belonging to Henry, King of Navarre, strike down a buzzard, two wild geese, divers kites, a crane, and a swan. Thus we cannot be surprised that men in early days should avail themselves of the assistance of these birds of prey in procuring food for themselves; and that it was a practice of great antiquity there can be no doubt-for, although it does not appear to have been practised by the early Greeks or Romans, on account of the first devoting themselves to the arts of agriculture, and the latter to that of war, yet their authors mention it as the custom of other countries. Pliny tells us, in his Natural History, that in a part of Thrace beyond Amphipolis the inhabitants used hawks to catch birds; and this appears to have been more a practice of necessity than amusement. He mentions that the men beat the woods, bushes, and reeds, to spring the game, when the hawks flew over them, and beat them to the ground, so that they were easily taken by the hand. And that the hawks were properly trained in those days, we learn from his stating, that, during the season for hawking, these birds would give the falconers signs, by their manner of cry and flying together, that there was good game abroad, and thus draw them to the field. Falconry seems to have continued in high repute in England, till about the time of the Usurpation, after which it gradually declined; but so late as the reign of James I. it was pursued with such ardour, that Sir James Monson is said to have given a thousand pounds for a cast of hawks, which was an amazing sum, when we take into consideration the value of money in that day. We have been led into this digression by having lately witnessed the revival of this ancient recreation. But to return to the plant that has, by its name, called forth these brief remarks on the sports of our ancestors. We have no less than eighteen native species of this genera of plants, and Martyn mentions thirtyseven exotic species, most of which are regarded as weeds. M. Pirolle mentions another species, under the title of Hieracium Eriophorum, which, he says, grows in the sands, on the borders of the sea near Bourdeaux and Bayonne, and is a very beautiful flower, although it has not yet found its way into the gardens of either the amateur or professional florists. The species generally cultivated in the English parterre, is the Auranticum, or Orangeflowered Hawkweed, frequently called Golden Mouse-ear, and Grim the Collier, when it varies with a dark-coloured flower; for this species sports considerably in colour, some plants producing red, and others a bright orange, or pale yellow, flowers. This creeping perennial plant grows from one to two feet in height, and has an agreeable rustic appearance when in flower, which continues from Midsummer to the end of Autumn. It grows naturally in Scotland, and is also a native of France, Switzerland, Austria, and Silesia. It is propagated by parting the roots in the spring, or by seed, which should be sown in March, on a border with an eastern aspect. The young plant will be ready for transplanting in June: they prosper best in a substantial soil, free from dung; for when the earth is either richly manured, or too moist, the plants are apt to perish in the winter. This species of Hawkweed may be planted in clumps to divide China Asters, or other flowers, |