if not entirely to suppress, such sports as we have here been treating
of, much of the romance of country life has passed away. This is more
especially the case with falconry, which had its origin about the middle
of the fourth century, although, lately, some attempts have been rather
successfully made to institute a revival of the "gentle art" of hawking.
Julius Firmicus, who lived about that time, is, so far as we can find,
the first Latin author who speaks of falconers, and the art of teaching
one species of birds to fly after and catch others. The occupation of
these functionaries has now, however, all but ceased. New and nobler
efforts characterize the aims of mankind in the development of their
civilization, and the sports of the field have, to a large extent, been
superseded by other exercises, it may be less healthful and
invigorating, but certainly more elegant, intellectual, and humanizing.
[Illustration]
RECIPES.