or FAUCON, a bird of prey of the hawk kind, superior to all others for courage, docility, gentleness, and nobleness of nature*. Several authors take the name falcon to have been occasioned by its crooked talons or pounces, which resemble a falx or sickle. Giraldis derives it a falcando, because it flies in a curve.

The falcon, or falcon gentle, is both for the fist and for the lure. In the choice, take one that has wide nostrils, high and large eye-lids, a large black eye; a round head, somewhat full on the top; barb feathers on the clap of the beaks, which should be short, thick, and of an azure colour; the breast large, round, and fleathy; and the thighs, legs, and feet, large and strong; with the fear of the foot soft and bluish; the pounces should be black, with wings long and crofting the train, which should be short and very pliable.

The name falcon is restrained to the female; for the male is much smaller, weaker, and less courageous, than the female; and therefore is denominated taffet, or tirclet. The falcon is excellent at the river, brooks, and even field; and flies chiefly at the larger game, as wild-goose, kite, crow, heron, crane, pye, shoveler, &c. For further particulars, see FALCONRY, HAWK, and HAWKING.

The custom of carrying a falcon extended to many coun