HAWKING. 153 



accident, leaped into the ditch after his royal master, 

 and pulled him out. 



No pains were spared in breaking in the Hawks, 

 as much of their value depended on their docility, 

 derived from good and careful training. The young 

 birds, when taken out of the nest, or sometimes 

 caught by traps, as soon as they began to fly, were 

 put into linen bags, with openings for the head and 

 tail, that they might be brought home without injury. 

 A hood or cap was then placed over its eyes, and, 

 for a day or two, the bird was left to itself. After f 

 which, it was placed quietly on the fist, carried up 

 and down the whole day, and gently stroked with a 

 feather. Having been, in some degree, tamed by 

 this treatment, and accustomed to handling, the hood 

 Avas taken on and off quickly, till it was willing to 

 feed. Meat was then offered, and the hood removed, 

 the falconer making a particular call at the same 

 time, which was invariably used whenever it was 

 fed, but on no other occasion, that it might become 

 acquainted with the voice of its feeder. It was then 

 taught to alight upon the fist from a perch, being 

 still hood-winked, and receive its food; this was 

 called luring the Hawk. When it was so far tamed 

 as to come readily when called, it was allowed to 

 remain unhooded, and then put to the lure, an arti- 

 ficial bird, made of feathers and leather, thrown up 

 into the air. To this a" live Pigeon or dead Chicken 

 was fastened, part of which, it was permitted to seize 

 and eat; during this part of training it was prevented 

 from escaping by a long string. When quite familiar 

 with the lure, it was taught to fly at live game, 

 chiefly by means of a Duck, which was blind-folded 



