. The boy and the birds . ortant distinction,) and tail shorter; theolder birds nearly white on the head, and sometimes on thewhole body. The head, also, larger. At the same timethey describe the bird as being more manageable, and thatthere is a decided difference in the mode of striking its prey. An old falconer, lately dead, says Mr. Loudons cor-respondent, Mr. Hay, of Stoke Nayland, Suffolk, has as-sured me he has seen upwards of fifty Iceland falcons, atthe same time, in the care of persons who were about tostart with them as presents to the different courts ofEurope. On the single authori
. The boy and the birds . ortant distinction,) and tail shorter; theolder birds nearly white on the head, and sometimes on thewhole body. The head, also, larger. At the same timethey describe the bird as being more manageable, and thatthere is a decided difference in the mode of striking its prey. An old falconer, lately dead, says Mr. Loudons cor-respondent, Mr. Hay, of Stoke Nayland, Suffolk, has as-sured me he has seen upwards of fifty Iceland falcons, atthe same time, in the care of persons who were about tostart with them as presents to the different courts ofEurope. On the single authority of Mr. Mudie,* (as far as I amaware, for I have not been able to find any other,) I haverepresented the Iceland falcon as visiting the north ofScotland. The ger certainly does; and as it has never yetbeen found to breed there, it remains to be proved whethersuch visitants as appear on our northern shores are of Nor-wegian or Icelandic parentage. The probabilities seem, Ithink, in favour of the latter. Feathered i ■niK BA^K SWALLO^V THE BANK SWALLOWS. When Charles reached the dingle, helost his way among the intricate paths; andinstead of coming to the riven oak and theotters hole, as he intended, he suddenly-issued from the thick shade, at a spot whichhe had never seen. A beautiful little glade was before was so enchanted, that his first ex-clamation was, Oh! to have a little rustichut and live here always. But perhaps Ishould find it rather dull sometimes, espe-cially in dark rainy weather. With thissatisfactory conclusion he laid himselfdown, and shutting his eyes, listened to themany varieties of song which were poured k 1(52 THE BANK SWALLOWS. forth on every side. There! that is theLinnet, I know very well: but hark! whatnoise is that: so loud and harsh, just likethe old watchmans rattle which I found inthe lumber-room; and Charles suddenlyraised himself on one elbow, and lookedeagerly around him. Presently he heard the noise again, andthen he crep
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