KITE AND PHEASANT IIAWKIXG. 299 



wiuding tlie most she can. Aud here the combat 

 begius, but oftentimes none can see where it ends, both 

 mounting out of sight ; but in the end the hawk be- 

 comes victor, and by main strength and courage beats 

 down the kyte, yet not without many turns and wrenches 

 in the air, to the great pleasure of the spectators." 



PnEA,sANT Hawking. 



A goshawk is generally employed to fly at pheasants, 

 aud it is necessary that she be extremely well reclaimed 

 for this particular sport, which is essentially different 

 from the hawking of partridges, and it only can be pur- 

 sued with any chance of success in low covers two or 

 three years old, and where there is sufficient space for 

 the hawk to pursue his quarry. A brace or a leash of 

 vv^ell broken spaniels must be employed to raise the 

 pheasants, and a couple of men emplo3'ed to mark 

 down the pheasants will contribute much to the sport. 

 Pheasant hawking is sometimes pm\sued in high covers ; 

 but this cannot take place with any chance of success 

 unless the foliage is off the trees, and even then it is 

 attended with much difficulty and danger to the hawk 

 from the impediments he meets with in his flight. As 

 soon as a pheasant is sprung your dogs are called in, 

 and your hawk cast off; if she succeeds in raking her 

 prey, proceed cautiously, the dogs being strictly kept 

 from her, but walking round her ; encourage her with 

 the several tones of voice when she behaves well. ^Vhen 

 she is quietly pluming her prey, stoop down, and cutting 

 off the head of the pheasant, allow her to retain that, and 

 draw the body away. When you desire to fist her, have 

 a small piece of meat in readiness on a lure ; w^hen, 

 having put on the hood, reward with some nice bits of 



