OTTER HUNTING, FALCONRY, SHOOTING 123 



to the patient ear of the concealed cobbler. In a moment 

 the lure pigeon is gone, safe once more in his little hut. 

 The disappointed hawk wheels round, whereupon the 

 cobbler pulls the other poor, devoted pigeon out of his 

 shelter and leaves him exposed. Down comes the hawk 

 very often (seeing nothing wrong) and kills, and soon 

 begins to eat his prey. . . . The delighted cobbler takes 

 a good hold of the cord or wire that throws the bow- 

 net (a most clever contrivance) and with one masterly 

 pull the hawk and pigeon are therein, from whence there 

 is no escape." 



The hawk, whether ' passage ' or eyess, is now out 

 of the bow-net, and in the falconer's hands for training. 

 Taming, however, comes first. It is not my business in 

 this little essay to say how this or that matter is accom- 

 plished ; I have only to say what is done, and what 

 must be done. 



A leash is supplied in the case of the eyess, who 

 has worn jesses during hack ; leash and jesses to the 

 wild-caught bird. Then comes carrying on the gloved 

 left hand, the persistent persuasion to feed from it ; 

 breaking to the hood ; accustoming the unhooded hawk 

 to the presence of strangers ; jumping to fist from the 

 screen or block ; flying some yards to the lure, a creance 

 (a long string tied to the ground) having been fastened 

 to the leash ; and ultimately flying at liberty to the 

 falconer's call and lure. 



The hawk is ' reclaimed ' — I trust it is understood 



