178 SHRIKES. 



wonderful celerity, follow the descent of a ring, pur- 

 posely thrown down a deep well, catching it in its fall, 

 and returning it to its owner. 



In parts of Holland and Germany, it is used for catch- 

 ing Hawks, in rather a curious way ; showing some other 

 of its peculiarities. The Falcon-catchers generally make 

 their preparations in October and November, when the 

 Hawks are on their passage towards the southern parts 

 of Europe. The falconer constructs a low turf hut, in 

 an open part of the country, with a small opening on 

 one side ; at about a hundred yards 5 distance from the 

 hut, a light-coloured Pigeon is placed in a hole in the 

 ground, covered with turf, with a string attached to it, 

 which reaches to the hut ; another Pigeon is placed in a 

 similar situation on the opposite side, at the same dis- 

 tance. At ten yards' distance from each Pigeon, a small 

 bow-net is fixed in the ground, so arranged as to be 

 pulled quickly over by means of a small piece of iron, 

 made fast to the net, and reaching to the hut ; the string 

 by which the Pigeon is held passes through a hole in a 

 piece of wood driven into the ground, in the centre of a 

 bow-net. The falconer has also a decoy Pigeon, in a 

 string, at a short distance from the hut ; and several tame 

 Pigeons at liberty on the outside, which, on sight of a 

 Hawk, immediately take shelter within. The Butcher- 

 bird is fastened by a leather thong on a hillock of turf, 

 a yard in height, and a few yards distant from the hut ; 

 a small hole is made, and a piece of turf laid over, for a 

 place of retreat in case of danger. 



The falconer has some quiet and sedentary employ- 

 ment in hand, to occupy his time, which does not prevenfc 

 his observing every motion of this his little watch-bird ; 

 and it is almost incredible at how great a distance he 

 will perceive a Hawk in the air. If it comes near, he 

 shows symptoms of alarm, drawing in his feathers, and 

 fixing his eyes in the same direction : on its approaching 

 still nearer, he screams aloud; the Hawk being then, 

 perhaps, not less than three or four hundred yards dis- 



