FALCONRY. 585 
it will obey the call, a great point is gained, for it fully recognises the 
lure, and knows that the meat attached will become its own on 
returning to its master. Then the falconer no longer fears it becoming 
free, for he well knows he can rec/aim it ; that is, make it settle down 
upon his fist, even when the bird is flying in the air. 
Afterwards it is introduced to living game by letting it fly at tied 
pigeons ; and, lastly, its education is completed by habituating it to 
swoop on the special game which it is intended to chase. 
Supposing partridge be the game it is destined for pursuing in 
the first place, the pigeon’s wings on the /wre are replaced by those 
of the partridge, and then the falcon is let fly in succession, first at 
partridges tied to a string, and then at liberated birds. When it 
binds its prey well, and shows itself obedient, it is employed on wild 
game. 
Birds of prey used to be educated for taking the kite, the heron, 
the crow, the magpie, the hare, partridges, quails, and pheasants ; 
also wild ducks and other aquatic birds. 
The pursuit of the kite, the heron, the crow, and the magpie, the 
profit of which was absolutely nething, was looked upon as a sport 
fit for princes, and was carried on by means of the falcon and 
gyrfalcon. But the chase of other birds, in which the inducement 
was a prey fit for food, was considered the sport of an esquire ; and 
for this were used the hobby (Aobereau, French), the merlin, the 
kestrel, the goshawk, and the sparrow-hawk. Hence comes the 
nickname of obereau applied to French country gentlemen ; “ be- 
cause,” as Lacurne de Sainte-Palaye says, ‘‘they wish to show an 
appearance of more property than they really possess ; and not being 
able to keep falcons, which cost too much in their purchase and 
food, they hawk with hobbies, which are readily procured, and also 
provide partridges and quails for their kitchens.” 
The most noble cas, but also the rarest, was that at the kite. 
We have ‘already mentioned, when speaking of nocturnal birds of 
prey, how at one time they were in the habit of alluring this bird by 
means of a great (long-eared) owl, dressed out with a fox’s brush 
Some stratagem of this kind was obliged to be used in order to get 
near the kite, which flies at heights altogether inaccessible to the 
best falcon. When the kite came within range a falcon was /et fry, 
and then a most interesting conflict took place between the two 
birds. The kite, harassed by its enemy, and, in spite of its turns 
and twists and numberless feints, unable to escape him, generally in 
the end fell into the clutches of its foe. 
The cast at a heron generally presented fewer incidents. This 
UF 
