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. Giraldus derives it à 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 eyelids, 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 flethy; 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 tafel, or tirclet. The falcon is excellent at the river, brook, 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 and Hawking.

The custom of carrying a falcon extended to many countries, and was esteemed a distinction of a man of rank. The Welsh had a saying, That you may know a gentleman by his hawk, horse, and greyhound. In fact, a person of rank seldom went without one on his hand. Harold, afterwards king of England, is painted going on a most important embassy, with a hawk on his hand and a dog under his arm. Henry VI. is represented at his nuptials, attended by a nobleman and his falcon. Even the ladies were not without them in earlier times; for in an ancient sculpture in the church of Milton Abbas, in Dorsetshire, appears the consort of King Athelstan with a falcon on her royal fist tearing a bird.