CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I 

 History and Literature 



PAGES 



Antiquity of hawking in China — Introduction into Europe — Royal and Im- 

 perial falconers — Decline of the sport — Survival and revivals — Modern 

 falconers — Early writers — Leading authorities — Modern books . . i-8 



CHAPTER II 



The Birds Used in Hawking 



Three classes — Long-winged hawks: Ger-peregrine, and kindred varieties, 

 shaheens, barbary, saker, lanner, and desert falcons, hobliy, merlin, 

 and kestrel — Short-winged hawks : goshawks and sparrow-hawks — 

 Eagles, golden, Bonelli's, etc., falconets . . , . 9-39 



CHAPTER III 



Furniture and Fittings 



Jesses — Bells — Swivels — Leashes — The screen-perch — Blocks — Bow- 

 perches — Hoods — Brails — The bath — The lure — Cadges — Gloves — 

 Mews ......... 40-54 



CHAPTERIV 



Eyesses and Hack Hawks 



Taking from the eyrie — Feediiig^ — Turning out to hack — The board system 

 — Hacking to the lure, and to the hand — Learning to fly— Dangers and 

 diversions of hack — Taking up — The bow-net .... 55-69 



CHAPTER V 



Passage Hawks 



Valk enswaard— Hawk-catcher's hut — The shrike sentinel — Handling the 

 wild-caught hawk — The sock — The dark cell — Prison fare — Early dis- 

 cipline—Waking—Hooding — Carrying— Manning— Pegging out . 70-86 



