A BIRDLOVER'S YEAR 



fine art in the trainer, but certain hawks 

 prove impossible owing to the intractability 

 of their tempers. 



Once a hawk is fully trained, it is 

 " flown " at various and different quarry. 

 The long-winged peregrine is naturally an 

 excessively swift bird, able to soar to great 

 heights, and its constant aim is to get above 

 its prey. This it does by ascending in a 

 series of circles. Once fairly aloft, it de- 

 scends with a rush upon the " marked " 

 bird, which it strikes with its foot. Pere- 

 grines are usually flown in couples a " cast " 

 being the " technical " expression and 

 heron hawking was considered the cream 

 of falconry. Ducks, grouse, rooks, and 

 partridges are all tackled by peregrines, 

 ducks being particularly swift. 



To-day, hawking is but little practised in 

 England, but any one interested in the 

 subject can glean much delight by perusing 

 the various old volumes written upon this 

 sport. 



Salvin and Brodrick's " Falconry in the 

 British Isles " * gives an excellent account of 

 the noble art of hawking, whilst a magni- 



* Published by Van Voorst, London. 

 138 



