208
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
principally known from its malting trade, the kilns with their hooded ventilators,
and the sweet odour of the transformed grain, being evidences of the industry
which could not fail to strike the visitors. At the "Grange" all were most kindly
welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Mann, and we were soon gathered together on the
lawn, where many gained a first insight into the once princely sport of Falconry.
Mr. Mann has established for himself a name among those who are striving to
revive the art of the falconer, or rather to extend its practice, for hawking has
never quite died out in Great Britain. We found the hawks each on its "block"
—three falcons, two tiercels, and a goshawk—and in attendance was Mr. Alfred
Frost, Mr. Mann's falconer, belonging to a family well-known to experts—while
Mr. Mann, Captain Thompson, Mr. Harting, and several other good falconers,
most readily gave explanations of the details of a "cult" so strange to many.
On the nearest block sat "Vic," a four-year old "passage" peregrine taken in
Holland; next to her was "Lady Salvin," a two-year peregrine caught in
Wiltshire. Then came "Farthingale" a two-year passage peregrine from Holland,
who, we were told, distinguished herself greatly at rook hawking last spring,
being a grand flier and very fast. "Next to her [we quote from the "Field"1] sat
'Lundy,' a very well-shaped and nearly clean-moulted tiercel, one-year old, from
the Isle of Lundy, a good partridge hawk and clever at snipe. As affording a
good example of an 'intermewed' hawk (having got through a moult) he presented
a curious contrast to an Irish tiercel, 'Shamrock,' sitting next to him, and which
although exactly of the same age (one year), had not as yet a blue feather in his
plumage. Lastly came 'Shadow of Death,' a four-year old female Irish goshawk,
whose skill in taking rabbits has been often put to the test, and has caused much
wonderment to inexperienced beholders." Wonderful tales were told us of the
doings and characters of these fine birds, who together had killed 250 head of
quarry (partridges, pheasants, snipe, woodcock, etc.) during the last hawking
season. At block was also one of Captain Thompson's Indian hawks—the
beautiful little "Shahin"; while "on fist" all had an opportunity of seeing his
grand "Saker" (Falco sacer) which excited much admiration. The birds' com-
fortable "mews" were thrown open to inspection, and the mode of feeding the
hawks and their treatment explained, and soon the erewhile mysterious terms of
art, such as "jesses," "swivels," "leashes,'' "hoods," and "bells," became, by
force of ocular demonstration, as familiar in our mouths as household words. A
very pleasant time was spent in rambling about the grounds and through the
extensive greenhouses, and in inspecting in the study and hall many pictures,
engravings, and books, illustrating all phases of natural history sport—for our
host we found, was as notable with the gun and angle as with the hood and
leash. In the library was displayed the collection of Lepidoptera belonging to
the late Mr. English, which has been purchased by Mr. Mann, and which contains
many rare Essex specimens.
Then the party, now increased to 80 or go, adjourned to the great barn, which
had been fitted up as a meeting-room. It had originally been planned to hold the
meeting on the lawn, beside the hawks, but fears as to the weather led Mr. Mann
to suggest the barn as a safer place for the assembly. In the words of the "Daily
News "reporter" the cool old-fashioned place might have accommodated an
audience of two thousand, and as we gathered at the further end on the solid
1 A short but interesting report of the day's doings was given in the "Field" for July 21st,
1888, under the title of "Falconry in Essex," and a very picturesquely written article, descriptive
of the meet, will be found in the "Daily News" for August 25th, 1888.