468 HAWKING WITH MERLINS 



Ing on' for its opportunity, generally finds it the instant 

 that the heron is intent on avoiding the stoop of the first 

 falcon. These flights are very grand to witness. 



I have known a good light heron give a brace of 

 falcons twenty stoops, and beat them in the end. 



Everything naturally depends on the quality and con- 

 dition of the falcons. There was in the year 1844 a 

 hawk named Loo which generally took her heron in the 

 third stoop, single-handed {vide Salvin and Brodrick). 



When using the merlin the falconer should remember 

 to take out some live larks with him, so that he can 

 take down his hawk if disappointed in a kill, after the 

 first or second trial. It is also a good plan to have a 

 dead lark, and to throw it out when disappointed too 

 often. 



The merlin clutches its victim by the throat until it 

 is quite dead ; the falcon breaks the neck or opens 

 the jugular vein, while the short-winged hawks kill 

 with the foot, being provided by nature with long and 

 sharp talons, and a powerful foot for the purpose. 



The Hobby. 



The hobby, the most beautiful little falcon we have, 

 has become rare in England, though I have of late 

 years seen a few in Scotland. It is very easily tamed. 

 It will 'wait on' for a long time. For its size, its 

 wings are larger than those of any falcon, so that its 

 pace is simply terrific. It was formerly used for bird- 

 catching, as larks will not rise when this hawk is over 

 them. At one time these little hawks were sold in 

 Leadenhall Market, where the falconer may still find 

 them at times. They are easily trained to a light 

 * lure ' with small birds. 



