SPORTING AND GUARD DOGS 



ranger blew a sharp blast upon his whistle. The visor of 

 the hood of each of the large hawks was then lifted, but 

 the hood, bearing a red tassel at its tip, was left in place. 

 The sparrow-hawks were then released. Each of these, 

 taking the red tassel of the nearer hawk's hood in its beak, 

 tore off the hood. The large hawks were then released, 

 and the hare being started, followed it, one on either side, 



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FIGURES OF HUNTING-DOGS ON HAN BAS-RELIEF (FROM KIN SHIH SO) 



stooping alternately, each hawk beating it with the (tai) 

 ball of its talon so loudly as to be heard at one or two hun- 

 dred yards' distance. After a certain amount of this treat- 

 ment the hare lay down exhausted. The hawks then 

 hovered, one on either side. The dogs meanwhile had 

 been released. On reaching the hare they lay down, one 

 on either side of the hare. The hawks alighted on their 

 backs, waiting for the huntsmen. On their arrival the 

 hind-legs of the hare were drawn back with a crook and 

 broken by a sharp blow with a narrow rod. The hare 

 was then killed and a little of the flesh given to each of the 

 hawks. 



Should the hare have broken for cover when put up it 

 would have been coursed with the dogs, the hawks being 

 held back for fear of injury in thorny bushes. If released 

 they would have perched near the wood on guard. In taking 



67 



