TRAINING 457 



with dark-brown streaks ruiinliiQr lenethwise on them. 

 While in and when just out of the nest they are blue, 

 but they differ very much in colour. The ' cere,' or 

 eyelid, is first blue, but eventually becomes yellow. 



After being taken up from hack the training may 

 be commenced, and they should at first be exercised 

 by strong flights and ' stoops ' at the lure ; but it is a 

 mistake to attempt to hurry on their education. Time 

 must be allowed, for hawks differ in character, and 

 some take much longer than others to become tract- 

 able, and they should, in order to make them so, be 

 constantly carried on the wrist. After such training 

 they soon get used to crowds. 



Previously to this they may require new jesses, and 

 I may as well here explain how this is done. A narrow 

 strip of tough and strong leather, such as is termed 

 'kip' in the trade, is put on the hawk's legs, in order 

 to hold the bird by. The leather must be kept soft 

 and pliable with grease (' Gishurstine ' is best). The 

 name of the falconer used to be placed on ' varvels,' 

 which were fastened by rings to the jesses. 



When the hawk is fastened to the block, and when 

 varvels are not used, a swivel made of brass or iron 

 is put on the jesses by means of a slit in the ends of 

 the latter, both jesses being fastened to one loop of 

 the swivel ; the leash, which is also made of strong 

 kip leather, and which is furnished with a button at 

 its thicker end, being passed through the other loop, 

 and fastened to an iron staple at the side of the block 

 or bow-perch by means of the falconer's knot. 



Indian bells are the best, and they should be fastened 

 on the leg of the hawk, above the jesses, by means 

 of narrow strips of leather called ' bewits.' The bell 



