2-889-383 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Hawking on the Downs, near Wallingford, 1850. 'A fine exhibition came off...on the [Berkshire] Downs, at about a mile and a half from the Wallingford station of the Great Western Railway. A quarry of seven blue rock pigeons, the swiftest that could be got, was flown. Five were killed, one escaping entirely, the other taking refuge in a stack of faggots, where it probably died, as it was much injured. One flight was most beautiful: the hawk was flown, and immediately soared an immense height, following the falconer for more than half a mile, and pounced upon the quarry with almost inconceivable rapidity, in fact like a stone; the pigeon was struck to the ground, and rebounded with the blow. Mr. Barr, the falconer, had six peregrins with him, though four only were flown, all of which perfectly understood their work'. From "Illustrated London News", 1850.