128 OTTER HUNTING, FALCONRY, SHOOTING 



on him in the heather ; she looks for your approach, 

 as proud as you are. 



People know nothing of the sport, or they would 

 honour it. Could a man see such a flight as that I have 

 just described and not do all he knew to become a 

 falconer ? 



Rook-hawking next. It is heron-hawking in minia- 

 ture. In both, to carry out the sport properly, the 

 ground must be free from trees. The quarry, whichever 

 of these it may be, is looked for on the ' passage,' going 

 for food, or returning with it. The falconer carries the 

 falcon on his glove ; the leash, of course, has been removed, 

 and she is held by the jesses ; she is hooded. When 

 a rook comes fairly near a hundred yards, if you like 

 the hood is removed, and the hawk cast off. Two are 

 often flown at a rook ; two always at a heron. They 

 have no mean quarry to attack, for a good old rook 

 will shift from the stoop with very great dexterity, and 

 the flight may be a very long one ; a good horse is 

 necessary if the whole, or anything like it, is to be seen 

 thoroughly. When there are a few trees on the hawking r 

 ground, it is well to carry a pistol, loaded with blank 

 cartridge, to be fired immediately under the tree where 

 the rook has taken refuge ; this will often, but not 

 always, dislodge it. But one of the difficulties in rook- 

 hawking is to induce the hawk to fly the quarry. 

 Naturally, she very much dislikes the flavour of the flesh. 

 A few falcons will take to rooks at once, but they are 



