“ But by far the most interesting relic of the ancient régime is Adrien Mollen himself, formerly falconer to the Royal Heron-Hawking Club at Loo, and now sole representative of the hawk-catching industry which once furnished employment for a score of experts. He is an old man, but hale and hearty, tall and straight, with an eye as keen as one of his own falcons, and all the intelligence of manner which comes from the successful practice of a most difficult art. ”

“ He makes up to the net, seizes his victim with well-gloved hands, puts a ball of worsted under its talons, which are soon buried viciously in its soft mass, claps a hood on its head, and draws a sock over its body, which holds the still struggling and ferocious creature as in a strait waistcoat, and enables it to be laid down quietly on its back in the hut, while the falconer hurries back to prepare his tackle for effecting a fresh capture. ”

“ He lets fly a pigeon, to which a long string is attached, and which, after some attempts to escape, at length finds its way into a small hut built for its accommodation. The wild hawk, which has of course seen this pigeon, comes sailing up overhead, and, as there is nothing to frighten him, descends within a few score feet of the ground to see what has become of it. ”