280 REMINISCENCES OF A SPORTSMAN. 



lure so near her that she may catch it within the length 

 of her leash ; when she hath seized it, use your voice 

 according to the custom of falconers, and feed her upon 

 the lure on the ground, with the heart and warm thigh 

 of a pullet. Having so lured her, in the evening give 

 her but a little meat, and let this luring be so timely, 

 that you may give her plumage and a pick of a joint. 

 In the morning betimes take her on your fist, and when 

 she hath cast and gleamed, give her a little bit of warm 

 meat. Towards noon take a creance and tie it to her 

 leash, and go into some pleasant field or meadow, and 

 give her a bit or two on the lure : and if you find she is 

 sharp set, and seized on the lure eagerly, then give her 

 to some one to hold to let her off to the lure ; then un- 

 wind the creance, and draw it after you a good way, and 

 let him that holds the hawk keep his right hand on 

 the tassel of the hawk's hood, in readiness, so that you 

 may unhood her as soon as you begin to lure ; and if 

 she come well to the lure, and stoop upon it roundly, 

 and seize it eagerly, then let her eat two or three bits 

 thereon; then unseize her, and take her off the lure, 

 hood her, and deliver her again to him who held her ; 

 and going further off lure her, feeding her as before 

 with the accustomed voice. Thus lure her every day 

 farther and farther off, till she is accn.stomed to come 

 freely and eagerly to the lure. After this lure her in 

 company, but have a care that nothing affright her. Sir 

 John Sebright recommends that as soon as eyesses of 

 either falcons or hawks are taken, they be at once put 

 into a large hamper, which must be firmly fixed on its 

 side about breast high in the branches of a tree, in a 

 retired situation ; the lid of the hamper, when properly 

 supported, will serve as a platform for the birds to come 

 out on to be fed. The food should be given to the high- 



