THE FALCON. 141 



mand of his master, and, when taken out for sport, 

 was carried sitting on his hand. 



These birds would fly with such force, and knew so 

 well in what part to strike their game, that they would 

 pounce upon any other bird, however large. The 

 stork, the heron, and the crane, each of which is two 

 or three times the size of the Falcon, were their com- 

 mon game. They always struck their prey under the 

 wing, and in a few minutes so disabled it with their 

 beaks and claws, as to bring it to the ground. 



If the Falcon did not succeed in striking his game, 

 he always returned, and took his seat again on the 

 Falconer's hand ; but when the game was struck to 

 the ground, he staid and kept it down until his master 

 came arid took it from him. 



The training of these wild and ferocious birds, so as 

 to make them fly and return as occasion required, 

 and to be under the entire command of their masters, 

 required much time and experience. Men made this 

 kind of instruction the business of their lives, and often 

 became rich by the sale of their birds. This kind of 

 instruction was indeed, at one time considered a mat- 

 ter of so much importance, that books, almost without 

 number have been written on the best methods of 

 training a Hawk. 



We cannot here go fully into this subject, but per- 

 haps a short account of the common mode of training 

 these birds may gratify some of our young readers. 

 It is indeed an interesting part of natural history, to 

 inquire how the nature and habits of animals can be 

 changed by the discipline of man. 



The first lesson which the Falconer taught his bird, 

 13* 



