138 HAWKING. 



tamed by this treatment, and accustomed to handling, 

 the hood was taken on and off quickly, till it was willing 

 to feed. Meat was then offered, and the hood removed, 

 the falconer making a particular call at the same time, 

 which was invariably used whenever it was fed, but on 

 no other occasion, that it might become acquainted with 

 the voice of its feeder. It was then taught to alight 

 upon the fist from a perch, being still hood-winked, and 

 receive its food; this was called luring the Hawk. When 

 it was so far tamed as to come readily when called, it 

 was allowed to remain unhooded, and then put to the 

 lure, an artificial bird, made of feathers and leather, 

 thrown up into the air. To this a live Pigeon or dead 

 Chicken was fastened, part of which it was permitted to 

 seize and eat; during this part of training it was pre- 

 vented from escaping by a long string. When quite 

 familiar with the lure, it was taught to fly at live game, 

 chiefly by means of a Duck, which was blind-folded that 

 it might not escape. The natural disposition of the 

 Hawk would induce it to carry off its game, when 

 caught, but this was checked by the skill and kind 

 treatment of the falconer, so that the Hawk, as ; soon 

 as it had taken the live lure, always returned to its 

 master, knowing that it was sure to be well fed as a. 

 reward. 



Having completed its education, when at home it was 

 placed on a perch without a hood. Straps of leather or 

 silk, called jesses, were put about its legs, for the pur- 

 pose of holding it, and bells were also attached, so small 

 as not to impede its flight; besides this part of the 

 Hawk's furniture, the person who carried it was provided 

 with thick gloves, to prevent its talons from hurting 

 the hand, and these were often very costly and highly 

 embroidered. 



Attached as were our ancestors to this sport, it was 

 by no means confined to England. In Denmark, we 

 have seen from the attention paid to their importation, 

 how highly good Hawks were prized. In France, too, 



