470 THE SAKER — THE GOSHA WK 



doing well was killed with a hunting-whip. I could 

 record many a similar story, where a tame hawk 

 has been killed by reason of its having flown too far 

 from its master, and, having had sufficient confidence 

 even in a stranger to allow the latter to catch him and 

 return him to his owner, has instead been ruthlessly 

 knocked on the head, and thus the labour and value 

 of months of training have been destroyed, the owner's 

 name on the ' varvels ' being seen when too late. Such 

 was the fate of a ' saker ' belonging to one of my 

 sons. 



The Goshawk. 



Though the goshawk used at one time to breed 

 in Britain, it is now but rarely if ever seen there. 

 Passage goshawks can be obtained from Valkens- 

 waard when migrating over the great wastes of that 

 part of Holland. Young goshawks may be procured 

 in France, Germany, Norway, and Syria ; they are 

 chiefly used for hares and rabbits. I myself intro- 

 duced the hawking of Alpine hares, with the most 

 satisfactory results. The goshawk is said to be used 

 in India for the gazelle. 



This hawk is so strong that both the ' leash ' and 

 " jesses ' must be made as stout as they well can be, 

 for they are very fond of 'bating.' Some people 

 prefer the use of seal leather for the purpose, but my 

 own practical experience has decided in favour of dog- 

 skin as being far superior to any other. 



In using a goshawk she must be held by the 'jesses,' 

 which should be made rather long, the ' leash ' being 

 removed from the rings or ' varvels.' 



The goshawk is seldom lost, as it comes down to its 



