BIRDS IN TRAINING 31 



call them back after a flight, a " lure " was 

 swung at the end of a string ; this was a heavy 

 pad with a pair of wings fastened to it, and on 

 this the hawk's food was often fastened also. 

 From this comes the expression, still so often 

 used, to " lure " any one, meaning to entice 

 them. 



In order to tame a newly caught hawk, 

 which was, of course, very fierce, it was usual 

 to keep it awake for several nights till it was 

 subdued and worn out for want of sleep ; 

 then it was taught to take its food while 

 sitting on the owner's hand, and to come to 

 him for it. When once tamed, many hawks 

 will get quite affectionate with their owners, 

 and they were greatly valued as companions. 

 The female birds were most esteemed, being 

 bigger and stronger than the males, and the 

 peregrine falcon and the goshawk were the 

 most general favourites. The peregrine flies 

 high and fast, and was used to hunt the heron, 

 wild duck, and other strong-flying birds, more 

 for sport than anything else, for to work with 

 the peregrine one needed to ride a good horse 

 to keep the birds in sight, and plenty of space, 

 for the peregrine likes to rise high and come 



