105 



" They are first taught to pursue pigeons ; and when quite re- 

 claimed and perfect in that night, they are broken from pigeons 

 and enterd by degrees to the Heron. In its wild state the Peregrine 

 does not attack so large a bird as the Heron : many unfortunate 

 hens have to be sacrificed before the Falcons acquire the courage 

 that is necessary for that flight. 



" The number of trained hawks brought by these Falconers to 

 the Loo every spring is generally between forty and fifty ; few, and 

 only the best of them, are kept through the moulting season, and 

 a new supply of young birds is procured for the following year. 

 The birds of the first season are considered faster and better than 

 older birds. 



" Besides the professional falconers, Mr. Newcome, of Hockwold, 

 a Norfolk gentleman, frequently brings some Falcons with him 

 to the meeting. He is, perhaps, the first practical Falconer in 

 Europe, and the condition, and consequent high courage of his 

 hawks has frequently exceeded that of the professionals. 



" On a hawking morning, the two sets of Falconers proceed to 

 the appointed ground, taking with them, on frames made for the 

 purpose, as many cast of Falcons as they consider fit to be flown 

 on that day. The company follow, and take their station generally 

 on some low range of hills, crossing the plain, and wait the ap- 

 pearance of a heron. Two pair of mounted Falconers, each with 

 a Falcon on his fist, in full costume of hood and bells, take their 

 stations a little in advance of the company, forming a kind of line 

 with them, and about a quarter of a mile distant on either hand, 

 another mounted Falconer, but without a hawk, called the down 

 wind rider, takes his station from half a mile to a mile down wind 

 of the line, the distance depending on the strength of the wind. 



" At length the cry of * a-la vole,' (the tally-ho of hawking) an- 

 nounces that a Heron is in sight, bringing slowly home the produce 

 of the morning's fishing to his nest. The two Falconers, at that 

 end of the line nearest to the Heron, now see him, and, bending 

 down on their horses, take advantage of every inequality of the 

 ground to get as near as possible to the point over which the 

 Heron will pass. He is allowed to pass the line in fancied security, 

 and proceed a little way up wind towards his home. 



" The hawks are then hooded off, the flight commences, and the 

 horsemen start in pursuit The moment the Heron perceives that 

 he is followed, he proceeds to disgorge the fish he has in his crop, 

 which falls heavily to the ground. He then turns his head down 

 wind, and mounts as fast as he can, his object is to prevent the 

 hawks from getting above him. It is curious to observe the dif- 

 ferent ways which some of the best and favourite hawks take to 

 gain their vantage height. Some fix their eyes on the quarry, and 

 work upwards in a straight line towards it. Others slip away on 

 the wing, and rise to their pitch with a long gradual ascent, at a 

 great distance, and quite in another direction from the Heron, and 

 when they have reached a proper elevation, sweep like lightning 

 round, and appear suddenly above the chase. 



