222 ART AND PRACTICE OF HAWKING 



careering about after their favourite quarry, or some other. 

 When tidings are brought in as to their whereabouts, the 

 message is either that she was " see'd on a bird," or " very near 

 got 'im," or at least was " chasin' of 'em Hke one o'clock," Such 

 hawks are easier to track, no doubt, than the dull ones which 

 sit still by the hour together ; but on the other hand, more 

 activity is required to come up with them and disabuse them 

 of the idea that their role is now merely that of a wild bird. 

 Liberty often acts as a wonderful stimulant to a trained hawk's 

 energies. The same falcon which has persistently refused rooks, 

 and can seldom score off a partridge, will perhaps after twenty-four 

 hours' fasting in the tree-tops bowl over with alacrity whichever 

 of these quarries first offers her a chance, and then, having been 

 reduced again into bondage, relapse into the same indifference, 

 and refuse to be induced by any amount either of feeding up or 

 starving to fly a yard after one or the other. It is extraordinary 

 what feats a bad hawk can be made to do by the schooling of 

 the hard mistress Necessity. There was once a lame merlin 

 which had injured her wing badly against a wire, and could only 

 just fly at all, and that with a clumsy wobbling action. She 

 was turned out loose in a place where some rebellious hobbies 

 were being hacked, on the chance of her bringing them down to 

 participate in her meals ; but finding one day that her rations 

 were not forthcoming until much later than usual, she wandered 

 off in search of what she could pick up for herself, and was 

 caught by a lad about three miles away from where she had 

 started, on a small bird which she had actually killed single- 

 handed ! 



It is a good plan, when a hawk is out, and there are more 

 searchers available than one, for one of them to stay at home a 

 good deal, so that if news of the truant is brought from any 

 quarter he may at once set off with his lure, and hurry straight 

 to the spot indicated. It is vexatious after a twenty-mile walk 

 to find on returning that if you had saved your trouble and sat 

 quietly at home you would probably have been by now in 

 possession of your fugitive. The labourers and other people 

 who are likely to catch sight of a lost hawk should be warned 

 not to attempt to catch it, — which is a feat that yokels have an 

 almost insuperable desire to undertake, — but to come at once 

 and bring word to the owner or his falconer. Rewards should 

 be offered and paid for any such information which results in 

 the recapture, but not otherwise, unless there is corroborative 

 evidence as to the facts reported ; for otherwise the too gener- 



