142 THE FALCON. 



was, to submit patiently to be blindfolded, or to have 

 his eyes covered from the light. This was done chiefly 

 by starving the poor bird until he made no resistance 

 to having his hood put on or taken off'. As a reward 

 for such quiet submission, he was always fed with 

 some delicate morsel, and thus gradually became at- 

 tached to his instructor. 



After the first lesson had succeeded, the bird was 

 carried out of doors, the hood taken off, and by means 

 of food and persuasion, he was taught to jump on the 

 hand of his master, and to sit quietly there. After 

 this he was made acquainted with the lure. The lure 

 was the skin of a bird stuffed ; and care was taken 

 that it should be of the kind which it was intended the 

 Falcon should pursue for game, when he actually en- 

 gaged in Hawking. On this there was placed some 

 delicate food, which the bird was permitted to eat. 

 The use of the food was to flatter the bird to come 

 back, after he had flown into the air and also to attach 

 him to the living bird, which the lure represented, 

 when he should be permitted to fly at it in the field. 



During the period of this instruction, the Hawk was 

 lied with a long string, so that he could not escape ; 

 and after these lessons had been many times repeated 

 and properly learned, the bird was shewn the live 

 game instead of the lure, but so tied that it could not 

 escape, and on this he was permitted to pounce. 



After the Falconer had exercised his Hawk in this 

 manner for some time, and found that the bird was so 

 attached to him, as to obey Jiis call from a distance, 

 and come and perch upon his hand without fear, he 

 then took him out into the field for actual sport. 



