BIBDS TRAINED TO HUNT 125 



Hunting with short-winged hawks is under- 

 taken in a somewhat different manner. The bird 

 is not unhooded until the quarry has actually taken 

 wing. The dogs come to a halt, the falconer 

 cautiously draws near; he flushes the quarry and 

 then only does he unhood the goshawk or sparrow- 

 hawk on his wrist. The hawk immediately sights 

 the partridge, launches out after it, and with a 

 rush of wings strikes it down. Both partridge 

 and hawk fall to earth together. Unlike the 

 falcons who cause death to their quarry by a blow 

 from their half-closed talons, these hawks kill by 

 driving their claws into their prey. They ' ' bind ' ' 

 to it and never let go. 



The preferred hawk of falconry is the female. 

 She is stronger, better able to cope with large 

 quarry, savage, and therefore prized by falconers. 

 Unless otherwise specified, hawks are generally 

 designated as belonging to the feminine gender. 

 They are perfect amazons, and it is to them that 

 the names " peregrine, " "merlin," and " gos- 

 hawk " are applied. If the less noble male is to 

 be mentioned it is merely termed a "tiercel" or 

 a "jack" or a "musket." Two hawks flown to- 

 gether, not necessarily a pair, are termed a 

 "cast." 



4 



Their Food 



Although the training of a hawk has been some- 



