292 REMINISCENCES OF A SPOETSMAK 



The Spaerow-Hawk. 



We have little to say respecting the training of the 

 sparrow-hawk, having already written largely on the 

 subject. Its flight is very rapid for a short distance, 

 which is easily perceived in its attack on small birds, 

 on which occasions every one must be struck with the 

 velocity of its stretches. She may be entered at partridges 

 with effect, and particularly in the early part of the 

 season, when the birds being not so strong on the wing; 

 and Sir John Sebright declares it is the best of all birds 

 for landrails. In Iceland the gentlemen make use of 

 this hawk with great success in flying it at the quails. 

 Sir John Sebright once captured a partridge with a 

 sparrow-hawk of his own training, ten days only after 

 the bird itself had been taken wild from a wood. 



This is a most convincing proof that Sir John under- 

 stood thoroughly the training of hawks, and is at the 

 same time an equally convincing proof of the occasional 

 tractability of this hawk. On the general training and 

 hawking of the short winged hawks. Sir John makes the 

 following remarks : " That to be effective, they must be 

 kept in high condition ; that they cannot fly when any 

 wind is stirring ; and also, that upon the whole they are 

 more difficult to manage than stronger birds." 



The Gtame flown at by Beitish Falcons. 



The quarry at which amateur falconers fly the birds 

 are either the plume or fur ; and although some falcons 

 are taught with success to fly at both, yet either from 

 want of sufficient patience and dexterity in training, it 

 rarely succeeds, and is therefore not often undertaken. 

 It is usually remarked that the quarry that the hawk 



