now TO FEED THE HAWK. 281 



flpng birds by the feeder on a plank, but for the short 

 winged hawks it is commonly fixed on the ground, as 

 soon as they are strong enough to descend and re-ascend. 

 To increase the nutritious properties of their food, raw 

 eggs are sometimes added to it : Sir John Sebright re- 

 commends that some bits of meat should be placed on 

 the ground, having springes dexterously set around the 

 meat, so as to entangle the legs of a hawk which has 

 become rather wild and difficult to be taken uj). What- 

 ever should, however, be at hand to prevent their injur- 

 ing themselves by baiting, Latham, the great advocate 

 for casting says, that he does not fail to give plumage 

 every night to a hawk when in full condition, to promote 

 castings. The following lines are in Blome respecting 

 casting : — 



" Wash'd meat and stones will cause a hawk to fly. 

 Long fasting and great easting will cause a hawk to die." 



Celandine and other herbs were given by the older fal- 

 coners when an active emetic was wanted. Purgatives 

 are much less frequently administered to hawks than 

 castings ; a few grains of rhubarb, jalap, or aloes, as three 

 or five, may be given, encircled by a slice of beef. Should 

 it be refused when thus offered, it must be forced down, 

 which must be done Avitli great nicety, or the hawk may 

 be injured, and at least some of the wing or train fea- 

 thers may be injured. jMarkham directs that a piece of 

 aloes, as large as a horse bean, is a proper purgative for 

 a hawk ; but we should recommend a smaller dose to be 

 first tried. When hawks are relaxed in their bowels, 

 and their evacuations present an appearance of mucus 

 or yellow glair, and particularly if they be mixed with 

 undigested food, give rhubarb. If the mewtings are 

 black, then in preference give a grain of calomel, three 

 YOL. II. u 



