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PRACTICAL
J?
A L C N ETY.
PRACTICAL FALCONRY:
TO WHICH
HOW
IS
ADDED,
BECAME A FALCONER.
M.A.
LONDON
PUBLISHED BY HORACE COX,
1869.
346,
STRAND, W.C.
LONDON
PEIXTED BY HOKACB COX, 346, STRAND, W.C.
TWO OP
HIS FRIENDS,
WILLIAM BEODRICK,
ESQ.,
AND TO
PHILIP
L.
BROCKLEHURST,
ESQ.,
HIBI
IT
ON HEATHER,
THIS BOOK
IS
THE AUTHOR.
CONTENTS.
PEACTIOAL FALCONRY.
CHAPTER
I.
V a9 e
Preliminaries
CHAPTER
II.
HOW
BECAME A FALOONEK.
CHAPTER
Sparrowhawks, Merlins
First
Early Notes
on
flying
the
I.
Merlin
My
CHAPTEE
Hawks
Sport
to
fly
old
Enthupage
siasm
frightening
at Grouse
II.
Game from
the
Black Cloud
CHAPTEE
53
Land
Permission
61
III.
Storm Cloud
CHAPTEE
Some
trifling
IV.
Anecdotes
75
CHAPTEE
Is chiefly
67
on the Goshawk
V.
81
"
"
PRACTICAL FALCONRY.
CHAPTER
I.
PRELIMINARIES.
When,
at the end of
May last,
I said "
a writer on the subject, I was not prepared for the demand which
and
me
for
a practical
what I
treatise.
them
lately offered
of "
"
make no further
preface, for
my object is to keep
entirely to the
much
falconry,
desired
Let
and trying
me
my
of
readers as I
suppose, in the
first place,
he should
that a
sort of
which he has
some
of, for
this country.
is
now
carried out in
inclined to take
up
He
will
ask
get
them
want a tntor
are, "
will
What
and the
sort of
first
hawks should
I have,
What
answer
is
do you care to go to
have you
manor
//
of your
what expense
own
or, if not,
PBAOTICAL FALCONBY.
have you friends who will give you pretty frequent permission
many
qther
sports.
If you are
he
is
strive to
for
If
and also
which
it,
man accustomed
intending to
thing
rich,
wish to hawk
if
falconer,
may venture
who
will really
to say so
long experience.
of doing so,
a rich man,
hut the
only
hawk
is
pigeons, larks.
and merlin.
Does he
On
the peregrine.
live
This
sort of
is just
his
is
fly
hawk P
Still
The peregrine
the sparrowhawk, he
second point
As
rabbits even
still.
but that
no
"
How
is
to the
to the peregrine, I can only say generally that the species breed
on high and dangerous rocks, both by the sea and inland ; and that
John
matter to procure
goshawks
but
they
may
from Scot-
Pells, of
Laken-
It is a difficult
occasionally
be
PBACTICAL FA1C0NBY.
As a
Park Gardens.
or Germany.
Sparrowhawks are
manor
is
The gamekeeper
easily procured.
of a
wooded
if
The
tiercels.
more
valuable.
As
and beauty,
rarity
6s.
or
7s.
articles
In the lan-
" altogether.
is,
only to pigeons, 5.
am speaking
them,
A first-
a bird entered
cases.
comprehensive question
I fasten
must
them up by the
is,
"
will
Where am
legs, or
and
ask
I to
keep
it is
rather a
my hawks musb
;
coming
"
"
What
to be fed
is
meant by
'
how much
all
"
Again, "
On
b 2
"
;,
PKACTICAL FALCONBY.
It will
little treatise,
and most
them
of
all
in this chapter.
cover.
finement.
shed
at liberty
best,
there
proper that
it is
the
is
made where
is easily
and
when
all
exercise,
warm by
are,
is
a long wall to
it
It
serve as a back
line of
the wind.
touching
it,
peregrine
an unused
sand
when she
bates.
Straw
is
Every
off
deep in
morethus
sir inches
Hawks may
blocks.
and in
this
way they are often placed very near together but I should
;
gency.
goshawks
The
peregrine's block
is
off.
height,
ground
other on a lawn, or
when they
would make sad work with their neighbours, if their legs got fastened
to eaoh other's leashes
its
The points
if
they
of their wings
when they
PRACTICAL FALCONRY.
bate must not touch anything but the straw or grass, certainly not
must
of course be
of the spikes.
My
order to
make
it
But an ordinary
is fastened.
ring,
if
like half
circle,
it
it in
for the
the form
they
Should an aecident
happen, and one end eome out, the wire will save the escape of the
bird.
It
considerable room.
it
a shed, but
A hawk has
Take a narrow
jesse
on each
leg.
Jesses are
made
in this
way
from a
point,
till
(getting
broader) at less than an inch from the point you have the breadth
of not half an inch of jesse.
for
an inch or more,
from the
slit
point,
try.
two
slits,
and, putting
it
Still,
Why,
bird.
slit
but, as
you
make another
little.
slit
not far
leg,
PRACTICAL FALCONET.
this
slit,
first.
arrangement ;
it is
slit
only
of the jesse
through the
to
the swivel.
The swwel
will
as also his
first jesses, if
Draw tight,
jesse.
8,
Pells.
slit
in the
so that the jesse binds only one loop, and does not
The
piece,
It is passed
is
through the
Hoods are made on blocks, and I have made them myself ; but
I
hawk they
and whether
As
are wanted,
worn on the
left
it
undertake to make
will
it.
very stout gardening glove of the gauntlet shape does very well
any rate, for feeding and ordinary ocoasions ; and beware of using
at
some hawks
will
not
let
off before
your
very different from the one they have been accustomed to.
The
Jure
may be
The dead
lure is a forked
you
like,
it
a pigeon on a
string.
Don't
it.
on the food.
it.
The
live
it will
cut them, but use slip-knot jesses of soft leather, and be sure
he
is
PRACTICAL FALCONET.
hawks sometimes
lure,
Mr. Pella
them
off after
live one.
is
tiereel.
It is possible to
make
bells
out of one piece of metal, but I have never been fortunate enough
to get such. Neither could I ever find any small enough for merlins.
Take a thin
hell.
hawk) by small
strip
Pass
it
two or three
through the
the " short "), not so near the other end out another
the "long").
slit
slit (call
" short " through the " long," and the " long " through the " short."
Draw tightly.
PRACTICAL FALCONET.
CHAPTEE
H.
The
falconer
may
receive his
when they
will
the down,
yet he
fly.
when
far too
And
it
receives the
difficult
if
the eyrie
is
in
and
eyrie,
command
to
for, if
the
proper time
and fear of
hawks
sometimes
is
or
fly,
case, he
when he
first
the point
if
In the
" It can be of no
use to anyone, as each person would rather gather the fruit for
himself before
it is
ripe,
than lose
it
altogether by leaving
it
to
another."
I have mentioned just
now
them too
late.
the
it
then there
is
it is
by
impossible
the time they reach you they will be tolerably strong birds.
And
PRACTICAL FALCONRY.
them out
is
to hack, during
There
and, when
all,
they are out, they mast not remain at liberty very long.
If I
oblige
literally
me by waiting for an
I write
knows nothing
of falconry, will he
it,
to it?
fly,
(artificially
first
There
brought on)
powers of
are
flight,
no danger of
is
flight by
there
is
no
keeping the
lures
there
no shortening the period of hack, because the birds are so old that
they can prey for themselves easily when they have been out a
fortnight.
Hack
some
" hack"
itself.
is
little
It is
managed
in this
way:
When
and
jesses
and
and
will
any case
erected in
in
is
When they
thoroughly
know the
is
opened, and they are allowed to fly. They will return at feeding times.
hack
There
bells are
is
much
Put plenty
of clean straw
on the
plat-
form, which should have sides of two or three inches high, with horizontal bars touching their tops, on which the, birds will perch
and
PRACTICAL FALCONET.
10
make your
small pieces, and feed with a rather blunt stick or strong straw.
Vary the
is
and sometimes
rabbit.
The
last
and
is
myself.
Ton may
as
If
fear
Also they
a later period.
At any
life
may grow up
with sodden-
happen when
shepherds and such people have taken the nest too soon, in order to
filth.
fort-
There
he could
by step as
from
have no possible
difficulty in putting
its
its roof
feed
Bell
case, in
either,
end of your
finger, as
first
Then
case.
lose
while, as
no time
in
* This,
however,
is
That, however,
offer
is
your
not of
of a
PRACTICAL FALCONET.
do it as yon
That
will,
likely
Still, it
for,
11
Mind they
They
will perhaps
fly
down to
Open the
will do.
ture.
the neighbouring
morning and
field,
in
Eight in the
it is
much
The
for themselves.
third case
is
a mile
rather
If possible, get
the platform.
difficult.
you were to
if
let
them
Well, I think
out.
still
out
let
till
they
may make
excellent birds.
know
they
lost. Still
them
If birds
done with them a week or two before you had them, and how
possible they are so forward, they
tamed
to a certain extent
by carriage on the
them a
live
it is
set at
he not knowing
This
is easily
it
On
while he
eating the
first
Let
hawk at liberty-
PRACTICAL FALCONRY.
12
swivel,
which
is
you
if
like.
him on the pigeon, which I need hardly say is fastened by a short string
near the block.
every night in the dark, or before daylight in the morning, and you
Indeed, I
originated,
may as
and which
means
a,
of keeping
them about.
have a block in
all
The dead
very sparingly.
There
the trouble of
* If
she will be on
is
for blood
at any rate,
hawk and
it
This I
has saved
me an immense
must be
live hack)
it.
Hawks
this
it
used
my field
young hawk,
my
birds.
pigeon
it is, I
my hawks in my own
following
call
the
Feed
I fly
if
all
night
will generally
deal of trouble
where
it
was
last seen.
it
PRACTICAL FALCONRY.
13
be kept tolerably tame for some weeks, and may even be taken up
net.
But
to ensure this
them a juicy
the net,
The
bit of
Hawks
feeding.
it is
you must
well to give
tact necessary.
some other
you as
you pull.
Before describing the bow-net, with which hack hawks are taken
up, I must give a hint as to the care required in letting out
out,
hawks
when
decidedly hungry, to lures just out of the place in which they have
been kept
there let
care, as I said
above, not to alarm them while they are leaving the neighbourhood
of the outhouse for the first time.
it
They should
may be
The tow-net
is
this
mere
should measure
half
When
neatly.
day.
To
feet
first
loops, in fact.
full
to
(five-sixteenths in size),
simple hinges
it,
it
it,
one hinge to the other and just within that line, and a little nearer to
;
the side on which the string is not fastened, place a hooked peg firmly
in the ground.
jesses
only, is
To
this
a pigeon
is
made
made
quite immovable.
Take a
PRACTICAL FALCONKT.
14
only a very
way
little
hawk
is
you to
pull,
away
fastened.
it is
he
will not
make it impossible
for
an injury from
when
it
it is
Take care
jerked.
also to pull
a little
towards the side on which the string is tied. It is a good plan to strew
little is
you
make the
let
finally set
net, for
Practise a pull or
two before
When he is
caught
some one hold him firmly across the shoulderB with both hands
whilst
and
over,
either
train
By hack
been so flown.
made
slits for
clever
its length,
their turns
and stoops.
With regard
As
received them.
so to speak, quite
I have said,
leave
may
roof,
say six
to
when you
weeks.
and adroit in
it is
possible
may
be
hack than
them at
tiercels
but keep
all of
liberty as long as
you
The
hack
is
should be without
game
that which
and, for
wild,
and
it.
free
from
It should,
indeed,
much game
is
human enemies on
with as
little
it
quarry of
PRACTICAL FALCONET.
any sort as
possible.
However, there
is
15
may
occur in
left
PBAOTICAL FALCONKY.
16
CHAPTEE
CASTINGS
HOODING FLOWN
III.
TO THE LUBE
" WAITING
ON "
The hawks
are
Let them
and hooded.
of the net
when,
their crops are empty, as they are pretty sure to be, they
be
carried, the
taken
the
first
night, in case of
hawk can
beak-hole
I
it
and this continued for some little time. Take the hoods
off,
man ought to
cut as no
hood
cut
fairly
if
may
is
off,
for no
it.
as though
it
were understood
and when
if
or
down here
who
even the
all
half-
the rudiments
all.
hawk
from the mouth several hours after he has finished his meal.
They are
the stomachs anything improper; certainly they are very moist, and
often rather slimy
when new.
They
are,
may do
in another
necessities,
however,
;
hawk can
and
of
no shape.
PRACTICAL FALCONE Y.
To
return.
casting, the
will
17
have an opportunity of
if
he
may be when
ia
is
put on a soft
not frightened,
him
by
not be feared.
offering
him
won't look at
it
he
jesses.
he
Probably he
he
if
won't come up himself, when he hangs put your right hand on his
breast and quietly
the
first
lift
him up.
If
on the second
if
some pieces
in,
This
fist),
He will
is just
eyesses of course
soon as possible.
An
eyess is
a nestling hawk,
differing
is
an
is
tame.
own
adroitness.
make a falconer,
as I need
of our professionals,
who engages
That
is
very pretty;
but
if
the
; ;
PEAOTICAL FALCONET.
18
by
practice.
Still,
not at
rate,
all
by clumsiness,
Perhaps
if
i.e.,
is
it is difficult
could be seen.
hood
It is
good hooding
it.
it
pull at
is a help in
My
is
I wish
it
when
trained, bite
is
own practice, after a hawk has been taken from the bow-net,
has been simply to hood, put on a block for a couple of hours, carry
for
been
have
The hawk
said.
and replacing
loose,
quite removed.
is
is
taken
it
before
it
has
off altogether, as I
a little at a fowl's leg through the hood, and for a few moments
for
some time,
She
is
if
possible
after
it
No
castings
till
must be
fowl
is old,
off.
its feathers.
If the
Don't plague yourself with one hawk for more than two hours a
day, unless she
very tiresome.
is
company, having the hood ready to put on the moment she bates
wildly off your glove.
a week
sometimes
You
the hood.
in four days
the
hawk
will
two
be well broken to
nights,
when you
are certain that her stomach is free from them, the bird should
sleep hooded.
This
it will
falooner
clutfSy,
is
but I think
which
I confess
he
may be from
inexperience.
PRACTICAL FALCONRY.
In that case, a
longer time,
"When
little
may be
necessary.
by books.
But
in your right
hand
little
19
must try to
(the
offer something.
hawk being
seated on
your
and
left),
hold the plume firmly and low down, either between the thumb and
forefinger, or
between the
derive
first
and second
finger,
ball of
the spare fingers are so placed behind the hood aa to oateh the
movement
cases the
in all
tolerably rapid.
is
such as have been frightened with the hood, can sometimes hardly
be hooded at
all,
till
is
it
tightly.
great matter
is
of
mine
away.
remember
men
it if
telling
me
generally
How well I
(perhaps she
is
may
also
it
the
fist,
Before
it is
as a rule
She
and
if
any
Indeed, they
benefit of
little distance,
may have
do
but to
safe to
lure,
of
call
them are
on
par-
on your time
for
PRACTICAL FALCONRY.
20
A week is
enough for
Three weeks
is
it for
field),
if
if
barefaced.
when
they do
it
(except, of course,
cause or other.
sit
so,
but, assuming
no
then
dislike,
agents,
let
them
so, especially
however, to be em-
Hooded
birds, it is clear,
When a hawk,
society.
is
i.e.,
time, she
first
I don't
know how
but I have
it is,
which
exceedingly nourishing
an appetite to-day.
I fancy it
I give both,
must be
yesterday
Hot
it
seem to
me
birds
i.e.,
birds just
to leave such
rabbit,
an appe-
It is cooling,
and not
Well
the
as far as
hawk
is
lure.
may
sit
on the ground
a bad one
up to her
she may do
till
she rises
if
first
so in any case.
in short, possibly
till
she
PRACTICAL FALCONET.
is
on the wing.
Reward her
well
am
speaking
now
21
on the
lifted her
lure.
Tou
don't
where she
is eating,
Detach the beef, fowl's leg, piece of pigeon, or what you have,
being.
of
home
but
let
her
sit
If
let
progress,
a young one.
if
all
off.
to give her
is
ready
a pigeon
to pigeons
its
When she
has
firmly
means.
it
have the constant exercise and practice which the hawk gets by the
nights,
and the many valuable lessons she may receive in " waiting
on.''
Wmting on
falconer,
dog
is
and waiting
used, a good
till
a.
hawk
he springs quarry.
his master.
The
oircling
When
little.
will
above the
a wide-ranging
be seen to wait
peregrine can't go
up too
A bird that will " wait on " in the clouds, like the little falcon
a number of sovereigns
not an eyess, she
is
she
is priceless.
That
bird, however, is
rule,
like
and many
of
PRACTICAL FALCONKY.
22
is
obvious
it
it
any
case, gives
commands a
great
extent of moor,
it
of heaven,
my
am
some previous
its
state of existence,
We
young hawks to pigeons, and one of the advantages was that they
may be made
may
you
for
some
on" a term
little
which
You have
well and
much), and you feel that the lure which she was called down to
yesterday
is
it
in your
power to give
if
keep well above you, there shall not always be a laok of quarry.
This I think very important. Again,
At what,
of August.
pigeons
The
And now
all
of September,
then, are
you to
young hawks
will
be ready
fly
up
There
is
no quarry to which
known
tiercels,
make such
lazy
way
faloons,
of entering, before
tiercels, it
23
PRACTICAL FALCONET.
is
first
till
When
a falcon
is
at.
Then
will
come the
At any
pigeons.
rate,
do not
let
Hawks
differ,
however, some
others.
Give her some old blue rocks, with plenty of law, time
till
stubble.
PRACTICAL FALCONET.
24
OHAPTEB
IV.
think
the
first
may be
it
sharp-set,
young
And
managed
birds,
must leave
con-
first
will
first
harm
If she should
grouse.
if
better.
It is obvious that
young
kill,
good health,
tiercel, in
when that
it
is possible,
the
first
and
For myself
have no
laws
August.
really
my first
It is necessary too, as I
hungry
while
it is
have
keep olose to the ground, or hang over your head, looking only
that, I think
one.
it
makes high
flying easy.
it
under them
It is
it,
especially
it
gives
so far from
if it
be a
warm
still
day.
A bright
PRACTICAL FALCONRY.
25
the country
if
off
tiercel.
ia
it is
tanght to " wait on " to the lnre, and to the few pigeons you have
will
let
when
no higher, and
go
point.
is
be.
in "
and
head
his
may
he
If
kill at
once, keep everyone back but yourself, dogs too, and go up quietly,
confidence.
Kneel down, or
retire a little if
he
is
into the bird a little (and this will probably take longer than you
imagine).
Then
remaining upon
lift
it
left hand,
him up with
and
fly
the hawk
beef, or the
;
hot
If
But we will now suppose that he has put thebirdsinto some covert.
flight is
and
all,
seldom very
flight,
though
far.
hawk remains
overhead.
hawk
There
that will
is
up
no excuse in
make
his point,
as they Bay, over " put-in " quarry, because the distance
is
short
has
and
left, for
the
first
If this
in,
you be slow
in your movements.
hawk
far,
PRACTICAL FALCONRY.
26
make
too hilly, to
it
possible to be
She
by way
(This only
of
parenthesis.)
If the tiercel
and you
useful,
It
may be
has killed
ground
(I
will
hawk down
mean
after
some
hawk
all,
fly
possible, for,
if
move
to other
when he comes,
little
makes him
after field
An
he does
till
kill
a young
tire
hawk.
A tiercel
inexperienced bird.
but this
is
is
first,
of small
hood
but
it is
Some
others
is
of
of
in this particular
than the
larger.
off
with
it,
half
Carrying
kill
too
failures), in order to
It
make
just as
may do
this
if
seize it
at
is
least,
that she
It is
done from
about to be robbed
the
and she
PRACTICAL FALCONET.
careless way, or
27
rate, failed to
make her
like the
from
she was
while
it
Tou may
the lure.
pulling at
her to
pieces of
may have
and gorged
away with
fly
herself
from
All these
it.
fly
it.
all,
hawks
it
Still,
never occurs at
captured
(or
lures,
and thinks,
is
in
after
is.
even dragging
all,
If she
some
it will
highest flyers, those free from screaming, the most noble in every
it
thing as
a,
it.
much
not very
my
me up a
little
me
it is
experience leads
sooner;
if
he
is
falcon,
little breeze,
tiercel,
the difference
is
He is
but
lighter
his
But put
rise.
hawk
good as any
rather
tiercel as far
she
is
not as
accident.
If birds are
lie
to a point at
all,
you have
up before you
is
enter
the
field,
and when he
at his pitch
PRACTICAL FALCONET.
28
dash through
short time,
he
is
if
it,
that he should
know
unhooded.
We now come
we
come
to hill
so
It is well
much
female bird
stronger,
who
so
is
think so
flights, to
much
nobler.
know
to
is
no doubt
but I
am
utterly
it.
There
is
no
flinching
were afraid of hurting her foot with the blow ; but there
right, headlong, rapid,
there
is
down-
and
in
is
earnest, brave,
prize, as
will
her
she comes
sails,
Surely she
is
the
queen of the wilderness and of the sky, the ruler of every creature beneath, the servant of but one above her
It is she to
whom
the winds are nothing, the hail nothing, the lightning on the
all these
mountains nothing
she defies
but
man
is
her master,
down
For the
first
lie
to a point.
Wait
first
few days in
for one,
FEACTICAL FALCONET.
very wild, get a few beaters, put the
when she
is
is
if
in
up as
and
likely plaoe,
fast as
you can.
him a
spoiling
little,
high-flyer.
hawk up
29
If she is
birds are put up a couple of hundred yards from her, she has uncom-
monly
little
But,
if
she keeps a
may
his range
With such
then,
if
fly,
and probably
The
markers' vision.
direction
kill,
she would
but
She, from
out of reaoh of
with active men, she might be found in time ; but she might not be
found.
is
live hack,
there
from
all
at the same time, neither dog nor beater should be so very far off her
as to
make the
dangerous from
its
distance.
am
Markers, I
your sight
the
know whether
left,
me
kill is in
The
flight is
some ravine
flat
soon over a
the bell
is
it
not,
moor
they
hill
out of
not heard
till
you
how do you
or (though this
Markers may
here.
is
and often do
but they
to get the grouse up again before the falcon leaves the place.
Of
PRACTICAL FALCONET.
30
course they should always be before your beat, and placed on the
highest points.
" who-whoop " and this brings the falconer to the spot
!
if
they are
do
will not
till
he has stood
still
she
If.
more than a
sentence, anything
made.
at
falconer's cry.
My markers, there-
waving
is
destination
its
it
If the
kill.
hawk
first
rises, as
time,
certainly be acoustomed to
may
her head
is
resumed.
ha,
may
in
cry
flew is com-
flight,
reaching
shout,
is
falconer
grouse
is
ha " as loud as
is
in instant pursuit.
Hi away
can
"
A
A
The
bird,
is
the best
only
and so
on, are
good here.
and
if
it is
it
Tou may
kill
wonderful
muoh
how long an
disfiguring
it.
of flesh on them.
PBACTTCAL FALCONET.
want
I also
steadily.
friends tell
live hack,
me
and
force,
31
birds were
it
not for
My
my
I believe them.
Wood pigeons
are
somewhat
of a nuisance
but a good game hawk will soon leave them alone, unless they come
very daringly near
in a partridge country,
sport; they
dismiss
the
them
mode
of flying
them;
for bilberries.
I will
of course be flown
next chapter.
open country.
notice,
But
in a wood,
it is
flights
Two hawks
after
a blue
air.
for the
haggard.
PRACTICAL FALCONRY.
32
CHAPTER
WITH GAME
HAGGARDS
At
PIGEONS.
my way as
a,
HERON-
MAGPIE-HAWKING PEWITSWILD
to the
in
AND ETESSES
CHICKENS
ROOK-HAWKINS
HAWKINQ
DUCKS HOUSE
V.
the
necessarily
dispose of
him
for ever.
had
with game-hawking.
The haggard
Many
good
of
footers.
them have
high,
Some
lately
of these wild-caught
diffioult
which
is
certainly a
But
show
to
hawk mentioned
them
before),
lies in
some
of
them
and
set
I will
give an
down what
lows
"
Do
I said to
him
in return.
if
kills
The extract
I
is
she
is lost."
as fol-
grouse first-rate
here.
yes,
she goes out of sight, she has killed and eaten the
is
have one
and, before
He means
it
so
without the
PRACTICAL FALCONBY.
smallest trouble
will
is
hardly have an
of
seeing
He
and
I have
plumage
haggard)
"
is
will
often
one
never
repeat,
the oonsoquence
is
"I
continues:
first
you
killed the
ture
33
(a wild-caught
hawk
in the
imma-
all three as
good as any
man
place at game."
In answer to this I told him that I did not doubt he was right, and
yet I would try.
to enter her to
bourhood.
my live
hack
But, after
and flown ?
If I ever
then
fly
all,
many
have now said all I intend to say about grouse and partridge hawk-
in flying
If
killed any, I
plan.* Before she declines flying it altogether, let your markers have
if
it
and
cannot easily be
The
As
* It
if
it is
it,
See a caution
PBACTICAL FALCONET.
and
do
thing; but
it is difficult
for the
be deceived.
may
be,
Of course, a
But
hawks especially
if
You
and
now high time to speak of other flights than those with grouse
partridge.
Heron-hawlting
say,
of
is
practice.
a,
it
odd times,
know
it
indeed,
though
at
killed herons.
this flight.
A quarter
yards or so in the
PRACTICAL FALCONEY.
heron, on his
gorges his
little
in her turn.
hawks "bind"
hawk
ride
and
exists
all three
the
rings too,
and
is of
again in a moment.
in
down wind, as
heron
If the
so.
fast as
Danger to the
a catch, both
is
is
the country
dis-
all
you can
to the quarry,
You must
He
ground.
little.
They make
and stoops
falconer a
fish,
hits or misses
35
flight,
is
though
not hors de
combat when the falconer comes up, the neck must be seized, and
matters arranged as soon as possible.
den
to,
When
is
not seriously hurt in that case, the hawks are fed on hot pigeon, held
:
It is
till
is
if
they
restored to
leg,
but
the moment she sees him, or that one which does make for him at
will stick to
him
all
through.
As a
rule,
first
is
Mook-hwvdkmg
is,
and that
but
many
my friends
old rooks,
generally use
PRACTICAL FALCONRY.
36
me
Let
flight.
I have
first.
iB
give
Some
them day
them
and now
in trees,
my own
my own
killing
birds, but
disappointed
fly
I speak of eyesses
eagerly at
but, though
first,
them at
losing
time after
them
Others will
now
after day,
experience.
experience
all,
And there
Of course
rooks pretty
if
Of course there
is
I think better.
in heron-hawking, the
the
is
none
it
might
hawk up
before
fist
but
is
to
fly
like herons.
If there are trees near, there
"field,"
if
you
But
trees are
a great nuisance;
run
they
may
be so frequent as to
my life
out,
when
trees.
I nearly
by others, or
there have been no others, to get a rook out of a tree while the
falcon remained.
is
of little
cases
more
rook, however, as
we
it
not often
requires a little
all
know,
is
shouting
PRACTICAL FALCONET.
like the report of a gun,
and
37
answer.
To
my friends who
my own practiceit is some-
in
it
many hours
in water,
till it
This
is
the
" nnbloody " crop ; the " bloody " crop, for which the wretched birds
must long,
is
"This bird
and the
is
not
fit
itself.
and some
feet,
of the gloss
her feet
for rooks
but
it
The yellow
are yellow."
I never went into this kind of thing myself, and have been contented
with high-fed falcons (one taken out of several), that flew rooks
because they liked
it.
young
its full
eyesses.
uncommon and
;
me
.(the
it is
but this
under the
rook's wing.
Once,
when the
in health
and
fat.
it,
which
this bird to
I of course
me
Supposing I
among
falconers
can,
it.
took out.
was eating a
had given
is
called
a,
"handy."
PKACTICAL FALCONET.
do
moat
easily
beat them.
This
singlehanded
unattended
if
certainly not
is
sport
be undertaken
to
on your
tiercel
unless,
fist
indeed, in
There
may
may
kill
What
is
wanted
it
but, even
hawk
such
if
is
and neatly-kept
fenoes.
common
so broad that a
is
and
The
it.
that,
flight
should be run after by some, and ridden after by others ; for both
horsemen and footmen are very useful to drive the quarry from
When
he takes to a hedge,
field
be
and approaching
be stooped
used),
the
The
other.
moment he
leaves
from
him
let
let
i.e.,
some
at, firBt
and he
keep him
position
covert,
attention of
or rather
to
(for
he will
two are
several persons to
him
put
out
is easily killed.
of
it.
I need
not say he has no speed, for everyone knows that; but he has
may be
belief.
Several magpies
They may
fly
dodging
too
is
them
much
at
first,
for
But
any bird
man saw
one of
will
one
easily.
will
all
the
you for an
PBACTICAL FALCONET.
hour or two
than
39
them.
I never flew
am
sorry to say
but any-
one who has passed through anything like the falconry I have just
written about, will have no difficulty with this quarry.
The falcon
The danger
entering.
is
why a hawk
is
and there
On
you
have
no
opportunity
for
very
much
interested
Many a
pigeons.
time
myself
and
and
for home,
it.
and
But,
may
yon
my
them
friends
at
by taking
my
dovecote
lost in
the
them in the
air,
is
really
The misfortune
from the
well beaten
The
fine,
flying
clouds, for
very
all
game-hawking,
nay,
them.
fly
twists.
fall
you can
no reason whatever
is
cise
If
only delicacy
if
them
is
roof.
*
PRACTICAL FALCONRY.
40
CHAPTEE
VI.
THE
BBAIL
There
manage them.
may be
will easily
or tiercel,
excellent hawks, on a
if
moor, perhaps on the edge of a bank near a burn, where I have oc*
casionally found them.
It
marked down,
left to
from the
well
all
must be
flies
air or
from the
when waiting on
and,
fist
if
a hawk
the quarry
But woodcocks,
find,
mark them
as
as you
will.
of a very few
room
Of the jerfalcon
practice,
and I
shall not
believe in
it,
and Norway
birds.
was determined
on falconry; and
it will
The
PRACTICAL FALCONET.
on
They
well.
41
of a rather slow and well-broken dog, just to keep the hare going;
any mongrel
will
course from
their
size, fairly
am
successful.
do* They
in a
swift,
want
on end.
and moderately
of quickness in the
am blindly bigoted
am
I can't
many
have
birds,
^ghapter
How
became a Falconer."
is
treated
It is fortunate for
hawks
little
me
in the first
They
never on
a day
tough food
of beef.
or dead
if alive,
hawk from
water, is excellent
tells
me
is
Lord Lilford
little
a,
if
much
dead,
;
it is
all.
the Green-
Icelanders
he
PRACTICAL FALCONRY.
42
them "carrying"
a fault
to place, but very carefully, upon the captured lark in the hawk's feet,
these
is
only
it is
little
a.
it is
their flights.
never
Unless badly
have
tempting piece of
it
in " with
many "puts
Nor have
killed.
both, but
a full-grown partridge
I killed
it
thoroughly.
Bagged larks to
is
judgment
it
you musj^
Bagged
appear wild.
is
When
it.
lark after lark, a bagged lark in a string (when the wild one oannot
be retrieved)
is exoellent.
down
for,
course, unless
We now come
a place in "
(if
possible) get
all,
them
of
carried
by a trustworthy
and to
i.e.,
grass,
as to
at.
fly one, bo
call
fist
of
course on
first.
They
will
come
PRACTICAL FALCONET.
43
for feathers
knocked clean out are scarcely ever properly replaced at the next
moult, though they mow/ he afterwards
hawks.
feathers
When
not
the goshawk
is
tame and
kill
that which
plumage
send
really is
books of ornithology.
For
my
this,
All this
first.
plumage in
however
friends, if
but
i. o.,
all
for
is
hawks
a
is
what such
is wild,
first.
finer
but not
this applies to
with hawks.
quarry
and
It is rather
Perhaps, however, I
The spa/rrowha/wk
and
is
is trained in the
difficult
order.
partridges,
ones,
may
trees.
One
fist
may perch
too small to
best sport
used
is
fly
at fur, neither is
it
for
a long
The sparrowhawk
The
may be
covert, it
is
fist,
If it
PBACTICAL FALCONRY.
4A
magpie-hawking.
it.
short-winged, hawks,
but
on,
fly
from the
fist.
in
them
offered
the
summer
every
They
If the
The needle
This
is
(all
a peregrine
may be more
differ of
size,
inch in length
it
than an
tapers to points.
the
knife
and
real
false
the needle
into
completed.
Insert
mark
to see
you
it
all.
Be
at
all.
difficult
may
till
the thing
rust
true
length
Dip
matter.
when
the false
all
and
is
half
well done
it is
difficult
If the feather is
and
insert,
add that
if
it
most
they will
the
size
very sharp
a,
quill,
that
push hard
indeed,
with a
get
to
somewhat
so
that
so
pains
of division
at
feathers,
is
brine,
the
having taken
accurately join,
of
for
shallow baths
hope
my readers will
I can only
PRACTICAL FALCONET.
The point
of the upper
sometimes a
45
Out
split is caused.
off
nippers,
Of course
is called coping.
This
hawk must be
held by an assistant.
The
brail I
what
I will copy
falconers.
British Isles
" It
:"
is
is
is
end
By
this
rW
The
slit of
is
about two
Through
of the
it.
end above
employed by many
it is
and
this slit
is closed;
one
first
taken up.
first
to the moult.
Eyesses in the
this
moult
warm moults
less exposed.
till
Haggards, and
usual practice
is
to "put the
till
November.
summer
hawks
have given
my
But
for
here
A bird
and
hawk up
still
my birds,
later.
from March
but
With young
all old
time.
plumage
sometimes happens as
more or
first
warm loft,
some years
in the moult
The
it, i.e.,
and
all
through the
of the birds doing nothing, sitting on their blocks like parrots in cages
PRACTICAL FALCONET.
46
for
doing
bo,
flight.
well, it takes
am
With regard
sure,
by
to health,
some weeks
or not far short of such a time, to get them into flying condition
after the
end of moult.
at least ; they
though
practice,
it in
if
is
in the
no man
mew ready
is
falconers, is
Look at Latham,
to be
Too soon
excessive fatness,
she would be "full of grease and glut," as they used to saypossible way, no doubt,
The best
bells;
in
my
the
bird's health,
I
risk
opinion, weekly
am
However,
Of the
latter
that hawks do not even require hach, for a bird, though flying
wretchedly when
first
a wild one.
that
it will
will,
Perhaps
so,
as fa* as flying
bird,
even
if I
seven months of absolute idleness during moult does not set its mark
for evil both
on health and
ability.
flying
Were
I to shut
selves in
what
them up
is
till
their
my
old birds.
December would
PRACTICAL FALCONBT.
be upon
it
me
47
In short,
must
for-
the
first
And
would rather
risk (what I should oonoeive to be) the very rare accident of the loss
of a
young and
hill
my
of
common
occurrence,
if
the
Cramp
is
often fatal.
is
An old goshawk of
mine once
had it, through having been left out in the snow and tempest. She was
almost cured by goose grease rubbed
warmth but
;
it is
in.
rarely of use.
peregrine,
The
and so
in proportion.
in one
Give a
little
six or
seven bruised
The
frov/nce
The tongue
is
is infectious.
sharp
quill,
and
a.
moisture
Very serious.
It
time.
and touch the bleeding part well with burnt alum and
lemon-juice, or burnt
castings.
is
and
The
is sick.
Do
hawk may be
very
little
at a
inflammation.
Worms.
rhubarb.
"
PRACTICAL FALCONRY.
48
Fractwes.
A broken leg
or wing
may
be
set.
Pwrasites.The flying
especially
worst of
them.
but you
mite
red,
is
the
The
all, it
few baths
after a
quarry as rooks.
may have
tick,
on merlins,
it,
unless by contagion.
hair pencil.
lines more, to
supply omissions.
follows
(I
copy
from a
it
letter of
can easily
eat,
and a
Robert Barr's)
hood"
little differing
(people, of course,
(a
She should be
as long as possible.
to your
want her to
fist
if
When
you can
let
shows symp-
let pull
tie
and
let
if
let
is
her
you don't
her go to
it
when
her quietly into the house, and hood her in the dark.
until
fit
at herons, a pigeon),
fly
as
is
If the bird
may be put on a
jump
"
much and
toms
a haggcvrd
and
If
is
her loose
all
Repeat this
at the lure you can, after this enter her to quarry," &c.
Lost
Tia/wks, if
they are not found on the live hack near the house
next morning, must be sought far and "near with lure and shout.*
ifl
the
first instance,
PBACTICAL FALCONET.
If they
hawks
have been out some time they may require the bow-net but
j
time
49
easily
after a
and the
life' of
cruelty.
that the death can hardly be more painful than that which comes,
As
if possible,
for chickens,
not given at
My task
my readers
is
;
now
for, if
I hate
a hen-killing bird.
quite finished.
man utterly
And
I,
h,
my
duty to
ri of falconry, I
it,
and to practise
it
am
have
with pleasure, I
HOW
BECAME A FALCONEE.
HOW
BECAME A FALCONER.*
OHAPTEE
I.
FIRST EXPERIENCES
have at
all
little
as possible in anything I
am
expressions
in writing
bare.
it is difficult
is
of course unavoidable
am
about to do will
not the thrusting of an unsavoury morsel down reluctant throatB not the appearing again on
not be considered an impertinence
the stage before an audience long ago quite tired of me, and disposed
to hiss
I
me
off.
remember that
if
possible, to train a
hawk
it
was
to fly birds.
though
I
now know
The chapters
The Field
entitled
"
How
is
it
may
be as well to notice
it
This has
HOW
54
bat the
I
BECAME A FALCONEB.
in
flight
it
somewhere
away
more than
certainly blazed
since with
sufficient flame.
My
first
with a good
many
others, I fancy) to
be a sparrowhawk.
common
I
hooded
my
by
my mother's
maid.
it
be
stiff,
it
made the
I did not
know
The
must
me
very
kestrel disappointed
kill
a sparrow.
little
He
live starling,
got tame,
my
I gave
friends,
ought to do
him
in order to keep
was not
it
till
it
till
as I had heard
him awake
and
true; but,
it is
some time
first
time
was as bad
later that I
knew how
thrown away upon birds which, though easily tamed, do not chase.
Then
I got
moment he was
lost
my
temper.
Still I
temporary
placed upon
it,
and-
made allowances
for his
ill-
to
Some years
all.
tree, in
I fed
them
I
lid
on beefsteak, soundin g
;;
HOW
BECAME A FALCONEK.
I carried
I let
All this
legs,
no
I was
fault in doing so
I certainly
It is not,
committed
Had
I only
hawks (unhooded)
in the
to keep these
and took
deal, putting
is
at hack,
I think, necessary to
fly
a spring swivel.
them
55
very likely that I should have had something like a perfect success
it
as
it
was, I rejoiced
in
perfect
liberty.
About
which
for
it
this time I
made one
my
years,
and
of the
and
is
of more
He
to see him.
showed me both the peregrine and merlin on the wing, and on the
block ; and
it
may be
nestling merlins
Now
of the beBt
hawks
I ever
larks, to procure
one
Still I
But
was
when
was
gave them a long hack, and trained them with very considerable
success
HOW
56
and,
when
brought
BECAME A FALCONER.
it
it,
flight,
being
certain that they have the less tendency to despair under disappoint-
ment.
They
face of discouragement.
ia
concerned, and
will not
up
in the
and
kill
it is
go up into the skies time after time, when they are losing
their larks.
and when
the Barrs tried merlins at larks not very long ago, and were delighted
would subside a
And
September.
my friend
so
it
did.
little
September sky-
of
larks have got over the moult, are in full feather nearly,
and are
know whether
upon the
it
it is
in
me
to refer to "
my merlins leave
subjeot,
bad taste
of that
Mount
book who,
either.
Tor Mr.
and he
me
really took
some
little interest
He never met
own charming and modest
in falconry.
thing" Well,
I
'
"
He
has taught
me
told
Mount Carmel
a Tale of
Burlington-street, 1867.
Modern English
me he thought
Life.
it is
muoh
better
Kichard Bentley,
New
HOW
BECAME A FALCONER.
field.
My
field,
when they
carried a
It is wonderful
jesses.
57
how
the
little
full
lightly,
the goshawk
sits
leaf,
vi/ve,
and
Jnst in this
lark.
in real earnest, and prepares to dash off as you kick each bush
is
But
for a rabbit.
At
first
of the
I used to keep
goshawk
my
it
how
I thought,
or four clever,
I forgot
that keepers
The
may not be
bells
unfair
it is
to suppose
is
keeper
is
may
he
is
a rogue
of size.
These
little
it is
lives,
them
said,
if
Give them
matters ; but
to the sport.
wliioh
my
it is
Still, I
They
first experiences,
to
"
HOW
58
BECAME A FALCONER.
records of
falconers now.
it'
She made a
down wind.
her, going
to the lure of
yards.
beautiful
She flew in earnest for half a mile, and quite out of sight.
made a
flight after
Park.
Turned
in Northamptonshire.
Drove
it
into a ditoh,
and strangled
unsuccessful flights.
it
it."
6.
flights again.
brilliant stoop
Then
Unsuccessful
Pearl followed
flight.
very close, and the birds went quite out of sight, taking over
Dainty's Fields for Weekly Hall
view by running.
striking the pigeon
Her
jesses
Wood.
I could not
when
me
I last
saw her.
was
repeatedly
whence she
wood."
keep them in
she was
it
started.
I hunted for
" I flew Pearl almost every day since the last acoount
till
all
She
but lost to
dayApril 231
lost her
me
"
On
this
The
even now.
trees of a small
dump
HOW
BECAME A EALCONEB.
it
as
or,
time.
when they
built, laid,
it
59
fly,
my
female bird.
At that time
flight at
I did something
a lark.
with sparrowhawks, but not very much, for the others took
my
time.
own
execution,
drawings.
soon made a
first
the authors
of
my
my
the admirable
his
and
own
I very
sent to me from Scotland, and, though he was not a good one, thanks
no doubt
in a measure to myself, I
began to prefer
It appeared to
me a
should
hawk
to
man as
this
princes of the
I
had
them out
of the clouds to
stood
of all
the very
Moreover,
And
once were
first
all,
fly.
called
fed them,
air,
these,
almost smile
now
at my notion
HOW
60
BECAME A PAIiCONEK.
But
and
sight,
I wished to bring
my own
in the world.
I failed. I did not sufficiently take into consideration the physical
last
old, permitted to
depend
chiefly
means.
artificial
is
upon
toil,
is
not
now
as of
courage, endurance,
in its appliances,
HOW
BECAME A FALCONER.
CHAPTER
SPORT
HAWKS
II.
FRIGHTENING
can
To me
them.
it
was sport to
CLOTO.
falconry is a
a cast of merlins
fly
up into
right
BLACK
see
61
my notions
in
of
my
a mea-
for grouse.
and what I
and
this,
and what
that
she,
I retain is
on the whole,
looking at the
is
matter
stamps
disease,
it out,
when
first it
shows
its
the moors.
But
if
up to a
my
still
hold,
it
if
that
is
when game
(or
it,
is
there
"sport."
I look
them, a
back to
little
my merlin
days,
much
Merlin-flying is
HOW
62
sport
pnt
BECAME A FAI,CONEK.
am quite oontent
it so.
many
years ago
" It
is all
And
is
about it
And
yet
it is
Go beyond
difficulty.
is
more than
want
patience, skill,
and so on
but the
peregrine
we
to
it is
a man
If
true he will
of engendering quarrels.
the smaller
birds, ten to one you are not content without flying the larger
that
is, if
knew
or
all
know,
We
fit
for
hawking game
on,
and
does not intend to rent any, I think he should content himself with
the small hawks.
it
does not
mission to hawk, or
who
but
if
is
game from
to be on the land at
not tolerate
it in
am
per-
all.
the least
his
it
to ask
you
but do any-
which
of
does,
welcomeand
belief is
it
fit
the
common the
not in
human
could
!:
HOW
BECAME
A.
FALCOITEB.
63
man who
And,
a moment.
They
lie.
ground.
me
tell
that
I don't know.
don't deny
it,
hawk when
it drives,
I don't
make the
deny
it
me on his word
may
birds
shooting, to
But there
possibly be mistaken.
it
and
is
I don't
who
something else
know
asBert it
I really
have flown
a dozen years
and (by
some
which
and
this
many
different counties in
probably
am
England.
my
game than
full of
shooting,
There
otherwise,
nothing in this
is
me but
if
am
claim nothing
That
else) I
men were
of
to
It is this
to pass over a
men were to
moor
pass over
the same moor hawking, there would not be the smallest difference
in the frights
lemd
is concerned.
leammg the
iB
that they
its
so.
the fact
is
artificial
is certain,
aB
it
But
saw suggested some years ago, that the buzzard or the hen
snatching
hawk
another.
it
harrier
than chasing may cause some birds to get up in the distanoe, and
HOW
64
BECAME A FALCONEK.
mind
circumstances can
it
I have not
Park, for
a.
am very certain.
my own, nor any under my
I am indebted to an excellent
hawk a
grouse.
my
and to
an excessive fright
friend of mine,
tion
of
many
for
a kind invita-
Swythamley
my
And Mr.
me if I
tell
any of the readers of The Field, who have cared to look through
far
may have
amused them.
I should not
flying,
my
house
grouse in
Soon after I
flying at
I
thought
me
reaohed
to
which at
first
my
just as he
was able to
when the
for,
though
bird
it
is
it
fly
knew the
little.
lure,
and
He
One
of the other
this is
an awkward
may be
tiercel,
me
accident
string
tieroels
work in
He seemed
little of.
tempered.
whom
set to
little,
if
the
that
hawk he immediately
little is
moment you
flies
as
get
almost
for a quarter of
an hour,
HOW
BECAME A FALCONER.
65
as she rolled helplessly with the movement of the vessel from one
end to another
few yards.
it
was with
The
beef-
what
I did, therefore,
is
to the ground within easy sight of the truant, gave him a lure
(fastened also), and, close
net.
to,
would
be,
flew'
From
down
down
to do the dirty
disliked
work
of a decoy bird
tied
tiercel I
the black tiercel was afterwards " Black Cloud," and Black
my life. He was
was
knew he
am
me
at the time
ribs.
I remember well the first time I began to suspect that Black Cloud
was a
treasure.
the rest ;
It
play.
flying at
hack with
a beautiful sight
in
them
short,
to
make stoops
and
came in
so
bird.
Black
fastest
perfectly delighted,
he was.
at
Cloud shot up
it is
And
and
he
said
excellent,
I only gave
HOW
66
one grouse
an
BECAME A FALCONEK.
He was
docile.
old one
I once
tiercel is
He killed
on
He had been
out of temper
down from
for
he went quietly to a
tree,
it
moment coming
in a
and ate
it there.
was
flying in
country where hawking was unknown, and I shall never forget the
would
hawk
in the air,
on
my
hand.
up the
lure,
on which he dropped at
my feet,
if
they
They grinned,
hooded him, I almost think, " after they had looked a great while,"
they changed their minds and suspected
me
of sorcery.
HOW
BECAME A FALCONER.
OHAPTEE
fir
III.
as
may
it
is,
way that
A hawk
nestling,
may
it
even
flew,
them.
notice of
hand, you
made "
at a pigeon on
fly
"
so fly a
hawk
tiercel.
On
the other
game, killing day after day, and feeding the hawk up from
the head and neck of the grouse or partridge
that
course added
stantial being of
to have
any
obliged to
when
some
my most
of
successful
falcons,
At the same
pigeon in a string.
subcease
attractions.
take down
something
time, I have
had birds
live
such
as the Princess and Storm Cloud (not Black Cloud, but a falcon)
and
remind
hawk
only because
my
They
work
so, their
and
r 2
HOW
68
when
BECAME A FALCONER.
mentioned the
of
off
on the
ruffian,
work
before.
I traced
if
he allowed anyone to take her out of the shop. I took the inspector
of police with me, in order to give the thing a formidable appearance,
to,
He
will
spend
on
51.
me
it," said
Storm Cloud
stuffer of
my property
viz.,
the
life.
now as
skin.
bird-stuffer I could
is stuffed
It
ended in
my eyes
for
the
a moment
off
and
I see
her
am
I take
my having
writing.
distance,
fairly to
A brute that would look at nothing but the lure might easily
be made to do so
settling
for
is
It
We were on
She was
should have undoubtedly had her in a few hours, had the information that I
had
offered
HOW
me
her to
BECAME A FALCONEK.
69
at liberty
Time changes
one's notions,
and heals
all
manner
my horse, and
The
life of
by simply placing
leg or some such
her
it,
saw
it,
on
it
by
hand at
all is
quite exceptional.
remembered through
rising of
if
Storm Cloud.
lure.
To
ward at the
taken out
freshly
stable,
my hand under
trifle
fanoier.
wounds, as I
my own hand,
of
life.
From
large)
on the
was a thing
to be
success of the latter falcon, her almost unequalled speed, and her
most
hawk
What the
make her
it
a,
at rooks she was nothing remarkable; but one day she took to
flying hares in the
saw her
strike
At
last she
up very
like
my
hawk and
who was
hillside,
trying to hold on
the
hawk stooping
HOW
70
again
till
BECAME A FALCONER.
The
faloon's feet
was
all of
She
had
exaotly a fortnight.
and then
An
At
(fat as ever
excellent
me two
to
But
my feet.
When
field,
last there
pigeon,
into her
me.
left
she was out for the night, there was a pigeon in the
If
was
last flight,
shot.
and sent
except,
indeed, the
if it
hills,
memory
is all left
me now
of those bright
days
with a thing like a dark ball twenty yards before her, making
valley,
my heart
I pause for
a moment in this
little history, to
For myself,
say
late,
and I think
how thoroughly
am almost fonder
of the
memory
I like
of
with
all
my
honest regret that sport has lately taken a phase of which I disapprove, I like a gun and a covert full of pheasants.
not
I
Who does
make a
I,
who
HOW
BECAME A FALCONEK.
ignored
To me
it.
in uncertainty, in
employment
my own notions,
should be inconsistent
the great
some labour,
71
anticipation,
and
I protest against
the loading and firing as fast as you can taking a high place in
sport
my
But, strong as
it.
am
what
is.
that
the world
all
from being
is
I shall go
alone right.
set
on with
my
subject
not at
is certainly
all
as a coxcomb
my
who
thinks
much more
is
agreeably to
is
ooncerned,
worth.
a concentrated excitement
If
down
is
flight after
And
is
there
season
falcon,
am
others
May, a
three-
know
was.
it
This
is,
all conscience.*
sitting
writing,
is
for
time
in
point
of fly-
fired
nor a
hawk
flown on these
moors, t
In the year 1865, 1 rather thought matters were coming to an end
with
me
had an attack of
the summer.
pleurisy, or
This hawk
is loat.
some
pleuritio affection, in
only, a falcon,
The year
was
flying at
hack
HOW
72
my room,
and scarcely
and
BECAME A FALCONER.
reported,
and
this is
Her
first
opportunity.
weather, I looked out of the window, and saw this falcon quietly
some
I put on
things,
Islay.
Many
few weeks.
mine
at
but,
first.
up high
if
She
remember
is
is soft
pitoh
if
is
she throws
fly
moment a
fly fast
to escape such a
of.
Grouse need
that they do
get
is
readers; but
rule,
of
as this
first
hawks
Her ordinary
other
hawks, as a
little
Islay is
to fear.
fly
many
at once, as did
tell
my
hawk
of
safe, as it is
many
difficult
thing to
hilly country,
of their concealment.
She
is
my
possession,
HOW
BECAME A FALCONER.
73
It
had
just lifted her on the quarry, and was turning the grouse so that
the
both
feet, giving
my face,
it
my hand. Imme-
slipped out of
like
little fiend
with
Fright, because I
fright.
was
afraid lest she should change her hold, providentially not in either
of
my
all
me
for
life.
one with each hand, but she wonld not loose. One of
my boys,
how-
ever was near, and he put the grouse close to her, to which she
moved from my
face.
by the neck
my hand,
in order
the grouse at
all,
jesse,
off it
she
I have
years,
able
my
now picked
and
is
am
not to
off
is
She
safe.
her game as
localities,
back
sufficiently sharp-set.
knowledge of
is
on a pigeon's wing, or
at
when
As a hawk
the point
to
I will back
never lost.
to
me
fill
speoially
believing
and
last, to
my
fifth,
will not, however, lay down any particular rule for the order in
HOW
74
BECAME A FALCONER.
experiences.
chapters,
of the
my
moment.
flying at hack,
birds are well and regularly fed from the time they are taken from
the eyrie
till
the
to the railway.
For
is
my own part,
too
much
for
if
when' this
Also,
on one's nerves
besides,
when
me
is
Let
me
who owns
the land
on which peregrines breed, or who has control there, to spare the old
birds.
know
am
open to the
am
asking a
that
is said,
concerned in
am
silent
affairs of
that, in consideration of
a,
if it is
man
If
is
answered
almost
may
rule
think that a noble thing has been said, and one which will never
bring regret with
it
summer
of 1868.
HOW
BECAME A PALCONEE.
CHAPTEE
75
IV.
sometimes
is
and I confess
difficult
stance
its
them
may
so trivial,
occurrence, which,
ordinary enough.
it
it,
A circum-
far between.
to fulfil
of
it.
was brought to me
in a basket, alive
and
having been
well,
it will
Some
bear repetition.
of the farmer
lads about here set snares for fieldfares in the winter, after the
it I
make no
thus
"
hesitation in
The snare
is
made
an inch in diameter.
marks
Every twig
is carefully
At intervals
taken
of about
off,
and the
an inch and a
quarter small holes are bored with a nail-passer, into which are
inserted the knots of black horse-hair nooses, each
made
of a length
of three hairs, doubled and twisted, so that the noose is of six hairs'
inches in diameter.
knots,
make matters
is
perhaps three
secure.
One end
HOW
76
other notched.
Two
BECAME A FALCONER.
now
hang
selected in a spot
little
found,
is
in order that it
little,
of these snares
very unlikely.
is
and so on.
The fact
is,
the
hawk happened
to settle in the
comfortable, bough
legs.
a,
thing occurring
This bird was on the wing again, and flying larks for
known how
birds pursued
by a hawk
will
dash into a
glass.
have
it.
I used to take
her into the room, feed her, and then let her go again.
Two
pigeon out
of the
The
flight
till
me
in
had
killed it
me to the hawk
HOW
the falcon eating
BECAME A FALCONER.
own block,
olose to her
it
77
would have thought she was fastened by her leash in the ordinary
The end
way.
And
man
falcon
The two
so she was.
birds
left,
this
many
Some
of us
And unused
unused room.
of the
same
sort
rooms in Broek, into which the mistress of the house went every
of
The grouse
and never
till
I spoke of simply
saw the
flight,
and was
afraid the falcon would strike the house in her rapid progress
birds were
by
making
adroitly shooting
up the
it,
both
of
the stones.
I once took
up a falcon which
I found, at the
This, like
end of a
flight,
with
derful indeed without the explanation, and, like them, very simple
when
it ia
given.
The
flight
ended in
all,
together in a corner, and the hawk's second foot was hardly intended
had
my wideawake
who began
if
game
is
carried from
my head by a female
it
it
off,
and I once
sparrowhawk,
on the ground.
HOW
78
BECAME A FALCONEK.
into
by oonstant
saw a falcon
them
for
flying, I
some kestrels
a grouse, which
she lost in a wood, after flying a rook over a long space of open
and
fly
was Maid
o'
a two-mile
kill
it
in cover,
And May
the Mist.
flight.
that anything could possibly live before Islay for that space
uncommon
would dash
little
I have twioe
people
left of
It took us
easily.
hawk on this
occasion
an hour and a
who managed
that the
and I
my
This
to catch
hawks were
lost,
them on
me a
servioe.
these
little
diffioult
tail.
Still, if
It
when one
no feather
is,
and then
broken, " a
little
of
garden wall.
ashamed to
say,
we
on a block in the
field,
we
of the
and, I
am
HOW
BECAME A FALCONEB.
A peg
79
among the
buried
a round stone for a seat for the decoy hawk, a bow-net well
covered with a
such bird
little grass,
a small bird,
alive, if possible,
these
perhaps
The
difficulties
would have been to have kept the hack merlins away from the
net,
most
likely
Hawk
lures as
as possible.
sit all
must be
exciting
I have to go through
it
and amusing
form
Some
much
are taken most easily, even without a net, but others require
lost
I only once
care.
had an
accident,
any consequence.
of
am
it is
generally
we
all
bathing.
he
his
Hawks
may
bird,
will
the latter
come,
and
if
kill it
he
is
little
when
notice of a stranger,
and
my window
early in the morning some years ago, and enjoying the sight of
Presently a per-
son with very scanty clothing and no shoes, a regular tramp, came
lounging along.
HOW
80
BECAME A FALCONER.
up a
I
stone.
made
stone,
so unearthly a shout
lifted,
but
moment.
As a
rule,
people are
As
I
in the
way
startling,
of incident
and I fear
little interesting,
am
right
Let
when the
the flags.
me go
first
lie
it.
It distracts one
to relate
glad to finish
I shall
be
all
as large as florins on
"
HOW
BECAME A FALCONER.
CHAPTER
V.
IS
The
81
it
come
did not
well down.
The
first
lightnings
their promise;
it
while
it
lasted
occupying a
it
was
is
it lasts,
and
It is awful, but it is
livid-flickering fork,
claps
It
one sorrowing
in a third parti-
continued while
over.
was
It
me
it
disappointed
fulfilled
though
we were
blessings,
here,
is
consummated in the
relief
that
it is
Till
now the
Moaning and
peace.
and to
when all
moaning and
smells
fresh from the rain, and all the sweetbriars and gillyflowers are
alive with fragrance, is to pick out of existence, for our
enjoyment, some of
I wrote
its
great
much to amuse,
Let us look
HOW
82
who look
people
how
oonsider
BECAME A FALCONER.
at
might
I should
worth reading.
This, I think, is the last article of anything like a series
on falconry.
shall write
whioh I
am
worn
am
beginning to tire of
my lesson-
poor living, who has been shut out of the world for twelve years, who
has lived
may
with his
when
hills
all
lot.
I first
I remember
came to
it
is
how I
and heather but the time has come when the wilderness begins
;
when the
isolation
I should
becomes painful.
like to
f riendB
civilisation.
me many glimpses
have
and
have
genial.
struggle
My horse
let
me
worse
brings
who
passes
be thankful that I
;
definite,
me
am
them without
not in a town.
civilised world.
me such a living.
it is
I wish
But can
I,
However,
Matters might be
and one can't help having some hope or dream, not very
would
of sooiety
sure-footed indeed
I should leave
uetant leges
HOW
I ought to apologise
BECAMK A FALCONER.
83
my history as
a falconer I have
in giving
if
it,
viz.,
subject which
is
much
a bird on
my hand
manner
after the
of greyhounds
chief excellence of
its pitch,
its
from the
off it
slips
on occasion,
and when
glorions thing
was to see
much
start
it
disappointed.
The
flying
from the
fist,
it is called,
from
which is
;
while
disci-
am
height not only one of the finest and most invigorating sights in
the world, but as the result of our art at
must not
its
very highest.
from above.
hawking;
am
still I
However,
my
sorry that I
fist.
more,
but the
know nothing
Of course,
probably'
first flight is
not
practically of heron-
can realise
it all
first love,
Yet we
home
in the
of
others in
their
starts
HOW
84
or.
BECAME A FALCONEB.
any rate from some tree near yon, at onoe after the'
at
quarry.
The
lent
first
me for
it
lives
near "Ware.
one of her eyes, whioh, however, did not in the least touch the sight,
reached the pupil at
I killed
nor do I think
it
The account
all.
"Falconry:
its
Claims,
it.
My
with
it
birds
when
play with
in a
good humour.
my watch
bird, a female,
off,
when
home from a
in
my beard as I was
carrying her
distance.
may be
of her present
trees,
hand
it is
and
may possibly,
in the neigh-
then, having
that you will find the ordinary falcon's lure very useful.
and
bourhood of
come
lure,
will
tell
Still,
you
HOW
BECAME A FALCONER.
85
quarry.
sets out
her feathers, making herself look large ; has a most peculiar look in
her yellow eyes
and amiability
it
It is of
when
on your
Beware
glove.
To
by
if
she
if
get a goshawk into " yarak " requires very considerable judg-
ment and
experience.
have her
full
quarry
does
of
small,
herself
power
that bird so
will
not
much nearly
as the sparrowhawk
miniature.
I never hooded these birds ; but I think
to
it
in travelling, or
much
are
However, except
better without
it.
many hours
kept hooded
in the day.
and so
people, dogs,
on.
The
to dread them.
sights
and I
But
it
it
wild
till it
learns
should be accustomed to
really don't
know whether
by habit not
all
manner
of
the neighbourhood of a
till
the
But onee
in "yarak,"
is
carried on the
fist
close to the
violently.
fifth
day
HOW
86
BECAME A FALCONER.
or (with
is
And
get a goshawk into " yarak," as far as the mere feeding goes.
my own experience is
fly
The
after they
carrying which was required to get the bird in order, and was then
when she
affair, Iceeps
I never
is in flying
is,
whole
is
a most companionable
bird,
and can be flown in the most inclosed country, and where a perehave taken rabbits with these
I lived in
these
They
used,
of
I should think
life.
and
If
one of
a curious patience
till
if
a white one
is
little
care is
necessary to ensure your not holding the jesses even one thought
In a wood,
too long.
you
flight
if
the
first
rabbit
is
one a
kill.
settled,
and
open the best, where the rabbits are kioked out of rushes or tufts
of grass
first
hawk
chapter, your
will
of the rabbit is
on the rump.
antipoda|
Most goshawks
made
the quarry
is
fly
if
possible
and
this is
the worst
known the
most provoking, as
even in the feet of a female goshawk, and must be held in the best
HOW
The male
way.
bird
is
BECAME A FALCONEB.
young
landrails, water-hens,
The goshawk
partridges.
is
is
very considerable.
pheasant, especially
if
the
if
often beat
hawk
is in
only the
them when
in
hollow.
it.
On
legs,
it
a tree that
perch
and perhaps
is at
87
is
the
goshawk on
she
fist,
may be
its
fed
your hand.
attained on a bough
is
kill
from, and
life
a live pigeon
The
fist is
quite a good
if
all
A live
your allurements.
such pigeons, will bring her down, she being really hungry
few
and,
such
terrible feet
would be serious
Still,
flying at
my
by
at the bow-perch
feeding upon
it
before I
had
with hares and rabbits, but I don't care to run any risk ; neither,
I think, would such a bird be safe with children.
say
that
very
little
children
should
not
be
Let me also
allowed
to
go
88
HOW
goshawk's
near a
BECAME A FALCONER.
especially
bow-perch,
if
the bird
is
feed-
ing; for what would reach a man's leg might reach a child's
faoe.
Perhaps I ought to
the
Though very
first
goshawk
nice birds
when
well trained and in " yarak," they are most sulky and temper-try-
fist,
right
all
Goshawks
much.
an old
all
will stand a
I once
cold,
she
was
Both her
feet
bird, too ;
we
And a most
wonderful remedy
it
was
till
;
it
These birds
some beef
i.e.,
a nice change.
and
of
by
all falconers,
is
seen
me
bit,
If
make an attempt at
no reason to be disoouraged,
for I
have told
HOW
BECAME A FALCONER.
it.
89
And in
saying "
Good bye,"
glad to help others, as I was helped years ago, by the friend to whom
I referred in the first chapter of this series.
To that
friend I dedicate,
now that I am
saying farewell to
because they, in
and, indeed,
our close friendship towards the end, I should not have been able
to write anything at
all.