HAWKS IN THE FIELD 201 



attempt the stratagem at all. A hawk which is fast enough 

 and clever enough to make a ringing quarry put in is generally 

 able, in a good country, to take him when he has done so ; 

 and, except in a good country, ringing flights should not be 

 attempted. When the moult is over, if any merlins continue 

 to persevere at larks it is possible that the device might be 

 adopted with advantage. The bagged lark would then be 

 given, not with any idea that it will be seriously mistaken for 

 the real quarry, but as a bomie bmiche simply, to show the hawk 

 that her prolonged exertions in bringing the quarry down have 

 not been unprofitable to her. At this period the very best 

 hawks, even when flown in casts, will put in ringing quarry in 

 places where they cannot be found, and, if repeatedly so dis- 

 appointed, will give up that sort of flight ; whereas if, when they 

 have beaten the lark in the air, and thus played their fair share in 

 the game, the man can occasionally make a show of playing his 

 part by producing a live quarry in the spot where the real 

 quarry ought to be found, the hawks may accept the situation, 

 though without being really deceived, and persevere. Unfor- 

 tunately, in these cases how seldom it is that anyone can arrive 

 at the spot in time to thus gratify the hawks ! They will, after 

 their intended victim has put in, take their stand close to the 

 place, peeping and prying about, and perhaps trying to " walk 

 it up " ; and may there remain for a few minutes. Five minutes 

 is as much as you can at all reasonably expect. How is the 

 man, half a mile behind where the hawks came down, to find 

 and get to them in five minutes? If he catches sight of them 

 at all, it will often be by mere good luck. More often than not 

 his first intimation as to where the flight ended is to be gained 

 by noticing from which direction the hawk came to her lure. For 

 as soon as the hawk engaged in a flight goes out of sight, either 

 in the sky or over a ridge, or by reason merely of the distance 

 to which she has gone, the lure should be produced, and kept 

 in evidence as long as the search is continued. 



In finding a hawk after a long flight it is useful to bear in 

 mind a few hints which experience has taught. Of course in 

 the case of the bigger hawks the bell is an invaluable guide. 

 The hawker's ear should be always ready to catch the faintest 

 sound of this well-known tell-tale. But merlins seldom or 

 never wear bells in the field. It will be well, therefore, to give 

 some brief directions as to finding these little hawks. These 

 will be useful also in searching for others when not found by 

 the bell. The person who was nearest to the hawk when she 



