27G REMINISCENCES OF A SPOETSM.\N. 



reclaimed to such a state of obedience as is absolutely 

 necessary for the purposes of falconry. That which is 

 most essential to ensure good sport is for the falconer 

 to take especial care that his hawks and falcons are in 

 a healthy condition. This the experienced falconers 

 easily ascertain by their general appearance, which 

 should consist of glossy plumage, a full clear eye, ac- 

 companied with excellent appetite ; which condition is 

 only to be attained by good food, great cleanliness, 

 abundance of fresh air, and regular exercise ; in short, 

 you may say that falcons require as much care and 

 attention, on a small scale, as the stud of a keen fox- 

 hunter. With hawks, as with other animals, you some- 

 times find sickly birds, and it may be accounted lost 

 labour to endeavour to train these birds for the sports of 

 the field. By feeling the muscle of the breast or thigh 

 of a falcon or hawk, you will easily judge of the state of 

 health of the bird, which should be round and firm. As 

 long as the hawks are kept in good discipline, and 

 obedient to the person who trains them, they cannot be 

 well in too high a condition ; there can be no decided 

 rule laid down for getting yom- hawk into fine condition, 

 for what is one man's meat is another man's poison, and 

 it is well known that some hawks attack with the 

 greatest vigour their quarry when in high condition, 

 whilst others require the stimulus of hunger to make 

 them exert themselves in the pursuit of their game. 

 However, it is decidedly preferable to lose now and then 

 a hawk from his being in too high condition, than to 

 bring into the field hawks in so low a condition as to be 

 unable to pursue their quarry with success, and frequently 

 remain hovering about the falconer. To ensure perfect 

 health to your hawks, they must be kept as much as 



