126 HAWKING. 



There were four foreigners, probably from Falconsward, a 

 village in North Brabant, much famed for its Falcons, under 

 whose particular care the birds were placed, each having a 

 bag, somewhat like a woman's pocket, tied to his waist, con- 

 taining a live Pigeon, called a lure, to which was fastened a 

 long string. 



After waiting a while, some Herons passed, but at too great 

 a distance ; at length, one appeared to be coming within reach, 

 and preparations were made to attack him. Each falconer 

 wore a brown leather glove on his right hand, to prevent the 

 Hawk's talons from scratching the wrist; and there was a 

 small bit of leather attached to the leg of the bird, held by the 

 falconer between the thumb and the finger. Each of the men 

 being now ready, with a Falcon on his fist, and the bag with 

 the lure tied to the waist, and mounted on horseback, pro- 

 ceeded slowly in the direction from whence the Heron was 

 flying : and as soon as the Heron was nearly opposite, though 

 at a very considerable height in the air, they slipped the hoods 

 from off the heads of the Falcons, holding them to the fist by 

 the bit of leather, till they caught sight of the Heron, when 

 the sport commenced in earnest. 



For the moment they were let loose, off they went, straight 

 as arrows, towards the Heron, which by this time had gone 

 a considerable distance ahead. As they were dashing away 

 towards it, an unfortunate Crow happened to cross their course, 

 when one of them instantly darted at him, but he contrived to 

 escape by striking into a plantation, where the Falcon followed, 

 but did not take him. The other Falcon soon overtook the 

 Heron, which began to prepare for the threatened attack, by 

 disgorging its ballast, consisting of two or three fishes ; while 

 the Hawk, after flying round for a short time in circles, at 

 length soared above him, and then pouncing downwards, struck 

 him on the back, when they both came tumbling down 

 together from a great height to the ground. The other Falcon 

 having lost some time in chasing the Crow, was now flying 

 with all speed to assist her companion, and was coming up just 

 as the first Falcon and Heron were falling. At this instant, a 



