THE HOOD 459 



hood is Fig. i, Plate V., and Fig. 2, Plate V. It is 

 easily made, the leather being cut as shown in Plate V., 

 and then sewn together, and the edges bevelled off 

 to make a neat seam. When both sides have been 

 sewn, the whole should be damped with a w^et sponge, 

 and fashioned into shape on a block cut in the shape 

 and size of the hawk's head for which it is required ; 

 and it must be well bossed out where the eyes come, 

 or else it might very possibly cause injury to the latter. 

 The hood having been fastened on to this block, it 

 must be allowed to dry thoroughly, and so take its 

 shape. The lower edge is then bound with either a 

 strip of leather or damp parchment ; the plume, by 

 which the hood is held, is attached to the top, and the 

 ' braces,' or strings, are added with holes through 

 which to lace them. The plume may be made of any 

 colour which the maker may select, the feathers forming 

 it being tied with waxed thread. A couple of slits 

 having been made in the leather hood, a piece of 

 leather is put through them and stitched to the plume, 

 and the coloured silk or worsted is drawn through and 

 secured by a few turns of v^xed thread, the whole 

 being lapped with fine wire. 



The braces are made of two strips of tough leather, 

 with a knot at the end, the knot being made after 

 passing the leather through three slits cut at the back 

 of the hood and crossed to the opposite side ; so that 

 the short braces open the hood and the others draw it 

 tight. The space required for the beak to protrude 

 through may be cut to suit the particular hawk for 

 which the hood is made. 



The Dutch hoods are excellent, and are to be much 

 preferred to any others (Plate I., Fig. 7). 



