474 THE SPARRO W-HA WK 



taken gently in the left hand, which grasps the bird 

 round the body above the thighs ; it is then lifted and 

 transferred to the right hand, the breast lying on the 

 palm of the hand, the legs extended along the tail. 

 When the game rises the bird is thrown, without any 

 more jerking or squeezing than is absolutely necessary 

 to keep her level and to go straight. She will not 

 exert herself to fly, if properly thrown, until the force 

 of the throw is expended. 



The sparrow-hawk is very delicate, and requires to 

 be kept well fed. A little food should be given in the 

 morning without castings, and a good meal at night. 



The young birds must not be taken from the nest 

 until they are fledged or they will die of cramp, to 

 which they are very subject when they are young. 

 They must be well rewarded after every flight, or they 

 will get sulky. 



Of all quarry the cock blackbird is the best for sport, 

 when it can be got into a hedgerow and flown at with 

 a female sparrow-hawk. The bird is not then thrown, 

 and it requires a great deal of assistance from the 

 field. It is most exciting sport, exactly like magpie 

 hawking with a peregrine tiercel. 



Treatment of Hawks on a Journey. 



Hawks when travelling by train are tied to a ' box- 

 cadge,' with their tails inwards in order to catch 

 their mutes. They must not be too near together, lest 

 they should grab each other. They must be free from 

 casting. Sawdust must be put into the box-cadge to 

 receive the mutes, and on reaching their journey's end 

 they should be tied to their blocks or stands. A new 

 stand has been introduced, which is made of iron and 



