HOME LIFE 175 



Then if it is a fine morning, there will probably be a hawk or 

 two which may with advantage be pegged out, either in the 

 sunshine, if she is fond of it, or under the cool shade of a tree. 

 At anyrate, there will be a hawk which will be none the worse 

 for half an hour's carrying ; and if there are merlins, it will be 

 none too early to fly them to the lure. Every falconer, each 

 time he rises, ought to take note of the weather, marking especi- 

 ally the direction and strength of the wind, and should do his 

 best to forecast how the day will turn out. If he sees reason to 

 expect a stormy afternoon, he will prepare to fly the hawks as 

 early as he can ; whereas, if it is already blowing or raining 

 hard, he may think it best to provide for the possibility of a late 

 start, taking the chance of an improvement in the weather at 

 midday, or later. He should decide betimes which hawks are 

 certain not to be taken out to the field, and make sure that 

 their allowance of food is ready to be given them early in the 

 day. Such hawks may generally be put out early in the 

 morning, and provided with tirings, at which they may pull 

 away contentedly on their blocks till it is time either to fly them 

 to the lure, or to give them their ration on the fist. In the 

 game-hawking season there will be a consultation with the 

 keeper as to the country to be visited and the dogs to be taken 

 out ; and the falconer, having an eye to the direction of the wind, 

 will plan out provisionally the sort of tactics which it will be best 

 to adopt in beating the ground. Beaters and markers should 

 also be secured, and directed as to the order of the day's pro- 

 ceedings, whether the business in hand is grouse-hawking, lark- 

 hawking, or any other form of sport for which these attendants 

 are required. 



After breakfast, on sunshiny days, there will generally be 

 candidates for the bath. Fresh water must be brought ; and in 

 very cold weather, a cup or two of hot water may be added, to 

 take off the chill. Each hawk, after bathing, should have an 

 hour at least to dry and air herself in the sun and wind. In 

 emergencies, on cloudy days, the old falconers used to dry their 

 hawks after bathing by holding them with their backs to a 

 fire. Hawks do not usually care to take a bath much before 

 eleven o'clock ; and they should not be indulged with one after 

 half-past twelve. Those which have bathed will, of course, not 

 be ready to fly till well on in the afternoon, especially as they 

 will have had a very light feed in the early morning, as it is not 

 good to let a hawk bathe on a quite empty stomach. The 

 falconer will generally like to be present while the hawks bathe, 



