Page:The Hare.djvu/134

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108
SHOOTING THE HARE

shown about the year 1869 by the establishment of the late Maharajah Dhuleep Singh at Elveden in Norfolk. There was plenty of open heath land and of large fields well suited to the purpose. Just at that time the Maharajah had sent John Barr, the falconer, to Iceland, to bring back a large stock of these noble falcons. At one time he had as many as thirty-five in his mews, and three or four of these were regularly trained to fly the big brown hares of which he had so many on his estate. No very great number was killed, for disease played havoc with the beautiful falcons, which were ill suited to the damp English climate; but as to their power to take hares, and the possibility of success at this flight, there could be no doubt.