RECLAIMING HAWKS 217 



above the ear-coverts. Some few of these hawks 

 are brought over to this country annually, being 

 used for hawking purposes. It is said to be one 

 of the hawks most easily reclaimed. I may, 

 perhaps, as well here remark, for the benefit of 

 any of my readers who are unfamiliar with this 

 term, that in falconry a hawk is said to be re- 

 claimed when it has been captured, and not 

 brought up as an eyas, or nestling. Reclaimed 

 birds are more valuable than eyasses. The 

 time required for reclamation varies very con- 

 siderably. Some kinds of hawks are very 

 readily tamed, whilst others demand the exer- 

 cise of great patience, perseverance, and con- 

 stant watching day and night, in order to keep 

 them from sleeping ; this system, accompanied 

 with starvation and gentleness, rarely failing to 

 subdue the wildest haggard, a term which, in fal- 

 conry parlance, signifies a freshly- caught mature 

 hawk. 



There are many people who are under the 

 impression that hawking, as a sport, is obsolete. 

 Such, however, is, I am glad to say, far from the 

 case. The Old Hawking Club can muster pretty 

 strong, and there are, besides its members, many 

 individuals who still keep hawks for sport, and 

 within the last few days the above-named associa- 

 tion has held a meeting within twenty miles of my 

 home. 



I have in my possession a drawing, given me 

 by her owner, F. H. Salwin, Esq., of a well- 



