144 HAWKING. 



anxious were the inhabitants to secure them, that almost 

 every nest was known, and the Falcon-catchers in the 

 neighbourhood watched them with the greatest care. 

 When the old ones had reared their young, and the 

 latter were full grown, two posts were stuck into the 

 ground, at a little distance from each other ; to the one 

 was tied a Partridge or a Pigeon by a small line, two or 

 three yards long, that they might have room to flutter 

 about and attract by their motion the eye of the Falcon ; 

 to the leg of the Partridge or Pigeon, they tied another 

 string, in length about a hundred yards, which ran 

 through a hole in the other post, in order to draw the 

 bait to that post, where a net, like a fishing-net, was 

 fixed, with a hoop in a semicircle of six feet in diameter. 

 This being pulled down, it went over, and covered the 

 post, for which purpose there was another string fastened 

 to the upper part of the hoop, which went through the 

 first post, to which the bait was tied. These two strings 

 the Falcon-catcher held in his hand, that he might pull 

 the bait when he pleased, and at the proper moment 

 draw the net over his prize. These nets were fixed in 

 the neighbourhood of some nest, or in situations known 

 to be frequented by Falcons. As soon as one of them 

 happened to notice the lure fluttering on the ground, 

 after taking a few sweeps in the air, just over the spot, 

 as if to discover any hidden danger, he pounced down 

 with such violence and certainty, that the bait's head was 

 taken off, as clean as if with a knife. The moment he 

 had thus despatched his supposed prey, he generally flew 

 up again, unless very hungry, to be reassured that there 

 was no danger near. Availing himself of this pause, the 

 Falcon- catcher pulled the string and dead bait to the 

 other post, close under the net, which the Falcon observ- 

 ing, on again pouncing down, the other string was pulled, 

 when the net fell over and secured him. He was then 

 taken out with the greatest care, for fear of injuring any 

 of his feathers, particularly those of the wings and tail, 

 and a hood placed on his head, and drawn over his eyes. 



