HA WKING. 



the frightened bird contrives to slip, leaving the Merlin, 

 eagerly following close behind, jammed quite fast between 

 them. 



There is a Hawk called the Ringtail, or Goshawk, now rare 

 in England, though formerly plentiful, and much valued for 

 hawking, which committed sad devastation amongst Partridges. 

 Its mode of hunting was to beat a field, and when a covey 

 was sprung to fly after them, and observe where they settled ; 



The Goshawk. 



for as it was not a fast flier, the Partridges could outstrip it in 

 speed : it then sprung the covey again, and after a few times 

 the Partridges became so wearied that the Hawk generally 

 succeeded in securing as many as it pleased. To catch it, a 

 trap or two was set in its regular beat, baited with a small 

 rabbit, or the stuffed skin of one ; but a surer bait, particularly 

 in open, unenclosed countries, was by preparing what were 

 called bird bushes, about half a mile from each other. A large 

 stake was driven into the ground and left standing, about 

 seven feet in height ; bushes and boughs were then laid round 



