242 EEMINISCENCES OF A SPORTSMAN. 



ance of a good dog or two that will set tlie quarry. 

 The goshawk is perhaps the most difficult of all the 

 hawks to manage well, in consequence of its sulkiness 

 as well as its great powers of abstinence. When, how- 

 ever, it is in good flying order, it may be worked for a 

 longer time than any other hawk. It is quite useless to 

 take the bird out except when in " yarak." This happy 

 condition may be known by the erect crest, eager look, 

 and puffed-up plumage, together with the peculiar cry 

 of hunger. If, combined with these signs, it sits per- 

 fectly still upon the fist, moving only its head about, in 

 watch for the expected game, there is little fear of the 

 result. Should it, however, on the contrary, draw in its 

 feathers and utter a chirp-like twitter, it had better be 

 returned to its perch, for these are certain signs that it 

 will not fly. It requires about ten days to get this 

 hawk into " yarak." When, however, this point has 

 once been gained, it may be retained so for a long time 

 by judicious feeding and constant attention. In order 

 to accomplish this, the bird should be carried for an 

 hour or two, or more, each morning, and fed only to the 

 amount of a quarter of a crop upon small pieces of 

 beef, from which it must come to the fist from the 

 ground or perch, or it may be allowed to pull at a very 

 tough piece while on the hand. After about a week of 

 this drilling, should the bird manifest the proper symp- 

 toms, allow it to kill something and make a full meal, 

 The following day it must be carried a good deal and 

 fed very lightly, and the day after taken to the field 

 for regular work. When in full work it should have 

 daily from half to three quarters of a crop, with a good 

 gorge on Saturday. 



Goshawks do not require so much food as peregrine 



