THE FALCON KIND. 103 



When the first lessons have succeeded, and the 

 bird shows signs of docility, he is carried out 

 upon some green, the head is uncovered, and, by 

 flattering him with food at different times, he is 

 taught to jump on the fist, and to continue there. 

 When confirmed in this habit, it is then thought 

 time to make him acquainted with the lure. This 

 lure is only a thing stuffed like the bird the fal- 

 con is designed to pursue, such as a heron, a 

 pigeon, or a quail, and on this lure they always 

 take care to give him his food. It is quite neces- 

 sary that the bird should not only be acquainted 

 with this, but fond of it, and delicate in his food 

 when shown it. When the falcon has flown upon 

 this, and tasted the first morsel, some falconers 

 then take it away ; but by this there is a danger 

 of daunting the bird, and the surest method is, 

 when he flies to seize it, to let him feed at large, 

 and this -serves as a recompense for his docility. 

 The use of this lure is to flatter him back when 

 he has flown in the air, which it sometimes fails 

 to do ; and it is always requisite to assist it by 

 the voice and the signs of the master. When 

 these lessons have been long repeated, it is then 

 necessary to study the character of the bird ; to 

 speak frequently to him if he be inattentive to 

 the voice ; to stint in his food such as do not 

 come kindly or readily to the lure ; to keep wak- 

 ing him if he be not sufficiently familiar ; and to 

 cover him frequently with the hood if he fears 

 darkness. When the familiarity and the docility 

 of the bird are sufficiently confirmed on the green, 

 he is then carried into the open fields, but still 



