102 HISTORY OF 



the manner of training a hawk, divested of those 

 cant words with which men of art have thought 

 proper to obscure their profession. 



In order to train up a falcon, the master begins 

 by clapping on straps upon his legs, which are 

 called jesses, to which there is fastened a ring 

 with the owner's name, by which, in case he 

 should be lost, the finder may know where to 

 bring him back. To these also are added little 

 bells, which serve to mark the place where he is, 

 if lost in the chase. He is always carried on the 

 fist, and is obliged to keep without sleeping. If 

 he be stubborn, and attempt to bite, his head is 

 plunged into water. Thus by hunger, watching, 

 and fatigue, he is constrained to submit to having 

 his head covered by a hood or cowl, which covers 

 his eyes. This troublesome employment continues 

 often for three days and nights without ceasing. 

 It rarely happens but at the end of this his ne- 

 cessities, and the privation of light, make him 

 lose all idea of liberty, and bring down his natu- 

 ral wildness. His master judges of his being 

 tamed when he permits his head to be covered 

 without resistance, and, when uncovered, he seizes 

 the meat before him contentedly. The repetition 

 of these lessons by degrees ensures success. His 

 wants being the chief principle of his dependance, 

 it is endeavoured to increase his appetite, by giving 

 him little balls of flannel, which he greedily swal- 

 lows. Having thus excited the appetite, care is 

 taken to satisfy it ; and thus gratitude attaches the 

 bird to the man who but just before had been his 

 tormentor. 



