288 REMINISCENCES OF A SPOETSMAN. 



TRAININa OF THE MeRLIN AND HOBUY. 



The training of the merlin, from a natural docility 

 in her nature, is not attended with much difficulty. 

 All the usual training processes are employed, which in 

 a week or two will prove so successful, that the merlin 

 will fly to the hand, held out at a considerable dis- 

 tance. Having made the progress, she must be made 

 to the lure by the following manner: — A lark, secured 

 by a string, is thrown off at fifteen or twenty yards' 

 distance, which being seized by the merlin, she attempts 

 to fly off with it, which it is the object of the trainer to 

 prevent ; he therefore jerks the string fastened to the 

 lark, and if luckily the body is pulled away, the head 

 only being left with the merlin, the lesson is accom- 

 plished. The body of the lark is now buried at the 

 feet of the trainer, and the hawk retiring thence to 

 possess herself of it, which not being able to do, but on 

 the contrary finding herself rewarded with meat instead 

 of the bird, soon learns to carry off her game is un- 

 availing, but to return with it to her master as a certain 

 means of obtaining a reward. The old falconers were 

 used to fly merlins with much success, but a cast was 

 usually employed, and a cast is also used for hawking 

 snipes, which afford very excellent sport. The training 

 of the hobby is essentially the same with that of the 

 merlin, but it usually requires time to accomplish : as 

 a field hawk it is used for the same game as the merlin, 

 but not so effectually, not being equal to the merlin at 

 mount, although larger. It is sometimes flown at 

 partridges, but it is better matched with quails, landrails, 

 snipes, larks, blackbirds, thrushes, &c. Colonel Mont- 

 ague asserts that the hobby has been principally 



