File:Stories about birds of land and water (1874) (14564163358).jpg

Identifier: storiesaboutbird00kirb (find matches)
Title: Stories about birds of land and water
Year: 1874 (1870s)
Authors: Kirby, Mary, 1817-1893 Kirby, Elizabeth, 1823-1873
Subjects: Birds -- Juvenile literature
Publisher: Hartford (Conn.) : American Publishing Co.
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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it ventures near to where the eagle issitting. The eagle has seen it all along, only he pretended not to do so. Hedid not want to frighten the squirrel av/ay, but to get it into his clutches. Nowthe right moment has come. He rises, raises his wings, and gives a terriblepounce. You would not have thought he had been so strong or so fierce.But it is all over with the poor squirrel. Sometimes the eagle plays the same game with a mouse or a rat, or anylittle bird that, in its happy freedom and joy of heart, ventures heedlesslynear the fatal spot. His eyes have a fiery expression, and are a bright yellow colour; and hisplumage is brown. His nest is in some tree, and is lined with feathers.Though he is small, he is as savage as any of his tribe ; but if he is kept inconfinement, he becomes rather cowardly, and loses his ancient spirit. HA WRING. PEREGRINE FALCON. In olden times, in merric England, as it used to be called, many ancient:sports were carried on that have long since passed away.
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PEREGRINE FALCONS. One of these was hawking by means of a race of birds called falcons.The falcon used to be blindfolded, and fastened by a chain to the wrist of its STOJilES ABOUT BIRDS. owner. He was then carried out into the fields, and when a wild fowl, orlieron, or any suitable prey, was seen, the bird was unhooded, and let fly.The amusement, which was rather a cruel one, consisted in seeing the falcojistrike down its prey. The art of falconry, or hawking, was such a fashionableamusement, that people of rank hardly ever stirred out without their hawksperched on their wrists ; and a man, called a falconer, was employed to takecare of them and feed them. The peregrine falcon is of a family that once stood very high in the publicesteem. His ancestors were used in hawking, and were fed and caressed bykings and nobles. No one was allowed to injure them, or to meddle withtheir nests. But times have changed since then. The descendants of thosehighly favoured hawks are now in little este

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