FURNITURE AND P^ITTINGS 53 



handy, especially for small hawks. It consists of a plain pole 

 — a broom-handle does very well — over which a single or 

 double fold of green baize is stretched and fastened. About 

 nine inches from each end of the perch thus formed, stout 

 wire is firmly twisted round it, and the ends of the wire are 

 allowed to project at an angle of about 90, from one another 

 downwards. When the perch is being carried, it is simply 

 grasped by the middle in one hand ; and when it is desired 

 to put it down, the four ends of the wire are rested on the 

 ground, or pushed into the earth if it is soft enough. The 

 hawks are, of course, attached by leashes tied round the pole, 

 as if they were on the screen-perch ; and four can be accom- 

 modated with the greatest ease on a short stick — one near the 

 bearer's hand on each side of it, and one near each end of the 

 pole. A long stick would hold six or eight hawks. There is 

 no reason that I can see why a stouter pole should not be used 

 for big hawks. The advantage of this over the ordinary and 

 time-honoured cadge is that all the hawks, if properly placed, 

 must necessarily face the wind, and need never stand sideways 

 to it. The pole-cadge can also be picked up and set down 

 much more quickly. And for carrying hawks when driving in 

 a dogcart or riding on a bicycle — a not impossible feat in 

 these days — this form of cadge is, I think, unsurpassable. 



Hawking-gloves, for wearing when a big hawk is on the fist, 

 are gauntleted half-way to the elbow, and made of buckskin or 

 very strong leather. They should, of course, be kept clean and 

 dry. For the smaller hawks a two-button dogskin glove is 

 strong enough, and preferable. Some hawks, when they are 

 very sharp-set, or fidgety and in a bad humour, will pick and tear 

 at the glove or perch in a tiresome way, and even tear it to 

 pieces after a while. A cure for this is to rub the exposed part 

 of the glove or perch with onions or a solution of alum, the 

 taste of which will generally soon disgust the offender with that 

 bad habit. Very often, however, it is good to provide such 

 a hawk with a very tough piece of " tiring," such as the 

 bare pinion of a goose or fowl, upon which to expend her 

 superfluous energy. Worn gloves should not be patched or 

 mended, but replaced by fresh ones. A glove which has 

 once become thoroughly greasy or sodden should be regarded 

 as spoilt. 



Mews, or hawk-houses, are more particularly described in 

 Chapter xiii. They should be absolutely free from draughts, 

 and not liable to get too hot in summer or too cold in winter. 



