GULLS, HERON, KITE, DUCK, ETC. 145 



our own times. The hawk was thrown off and waited on at 

 a high pitch, while the duck were put up by water-spaniels 

 working in the water in concert with beaters on the bank. 

 Much pains were taken to drive the quarry in the right direc- 

 tion. The first stoop would of course be the most dangerous to 

 the rising duck, and if he avoided this, there would often be 

 a fine chase, as the duck, when once fairly on the wing, is very 

 swift, and severely taxes the powers of the best peregrine. Pere- 

 grines are very keen after this quarry, and indeed in some 

 countries are commonly known by the local name of "duck- 

 hawks." In India the peregrine and the shaheens are both used 

 for this flight, which is highly esteemed, and, no doubt, quite 

 as good as grouse-hawking. It is certain that it was also a 

 favourite sport in China and Japan, where it may still be had 

 by any adventurous sportsman who travels so far. 



A very lively and amusing flight is that at the magpie, 

 which was largely practised in Ireland until the middle of the 

 nineteenth century, and is still occasionally to be seen. It 

 partakes of the two characters of sport described in Chapters 

 VII. and VIII. In fact, just as the magpie is a parti-coloured 

 bird, neither all black nor all white, so the pursuit of him is 

 neither wholly by flying from the fist nor wholly from the pitch, 

 but by a combination of the two. The magpie is seldom to be 

 found in very open country. You must therefore get at him as 

 you best can. A cast of hawks is flown ; and often it is an 

 even chance that their wide-awake quarry will get off to some 

 shelter before either hawk has even had one shot at him. 

 Then both hawks will wait on, when they have become au fait 

 at the game, so as best to cut off his retreat to another covert. 

 The falconer meanwhile has to use his best exertions to dis- 

 lodge the fugitive from his place of rest. He should be assisted 

 by a large field, which must hurry up with all speed to the 

 spot, and by every imaginable device endeavour to rout out the 

 quarry. Sticks and stones are discharged. Hunting-whips 

 are cracked. Pistol-shots are even brought into requisition, 

 and boys are deputed to climb the trees. The tiercels — for 

 tiercels are most commonly used for this flight — wait on 

 knowingly in advantageous places, — one sometimes close to the 

 covert, ready for a sharp, quick stoop ; and the other at a 

 higher pitch, hoping for a long shot. The magpie is not a fast 

 flier ; but he uses his head as well as his wings, and is ready 

 whenever a chance occurs to get back to covert. The beaters 

 have often more to do than the hawks, with shouting, running, 

 pelting, and contriving by their joint efforts to make the 



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