QUALITIES OF THE FALCONER. 277 



possiLle in the open air ; not too much exposed to cold 

 winds, and during rainy weather under a shed in a 

 sheltered situation. Some falconers prefer keeping their 

 falcons or hawks in a house, or mews, made expressly 

 for them. These places should be kept entirely dark ; 

 and it would be advisable for a falconer to remain with 

 the birds until they are settled for the night, in order to 

 prevent their halting off their block or perch. Early 

 in the morning they should be taken out of the mews, 

 and placed upon blocks in the open air, without their 

 hoods, which in falconer's language is termed iveoMiering. 

 The dog boxes in which the spaniels used for finding the 

 quarry are kept, should be placed near the spot, to 

 accustom the hawk to their presence in the field when 

 hunting for game. One most essential quality in a 

 falconer is to have much patience and great command 

 over his temper, for an ebullition of anger or impatience 

 displayed towards the hawk may have the effect of 

 retarding the process of reclaiming for a considerable 

 time, and with some hawks render fruitless all attempts 

 to reclaim them. One great object is for the falconer to 

 impress on the minds of his falcons that they are 

 entirely dependent on him for their food and 

 sustenance during the period of their training : marked 

 attention should be paid to serving their meals regularly, 

 taking care to supply them with bits of fresh raw beef, 

 or parts of a pigeon or rabbit ; for these birds, when 

 hungry, are not over nice, still are epicures in their way, 

 and when the feeder indulges their palates it increases 

 their attachment to him, and they more willingly obey 

 his commands when led into the field to attack their 

 quarry. 



