WILD ANIMALS TRAINED TO HUNT 101 



a ' lure,' which may be either a dead bird such as 

 a pigeon, or an artificial arrangement made of 

 wood, leather, feathers, a swivel and cord, and some 

 pieces of meat. This is first of all placed upon 

 the ground quite close to the bird, then gradually 

 removed further and further off until, ultimately, 

 the hawk is trained to fly to it from a considerable 

 distance away. When the bird has become pro- 

 ficient at flying to the lure, it is then flown at a live 

 domestic pigeon, and, finally, at wild game. 



One of the largest of the hawk family is 

 the European goshawk, or goose-hawk, as it is 

 also called. Unlike the falcons, which rise high 

 into the air when chasing their prey and then 

 suddenly pounce or ' stoop ' upon their victims 

 from above, the goshawk flies directly after its 

 quarry in a manner which is known as ' raking.' 

 Of the several varieties of this bird which are 

 to be met with in foreign countries, one called 

 the ' shabeen ' by the natives of Syria, which 

 only attains to the size of a domestic pigeon, was 

 formerly trained and employed to fly at eagles. 

 The hawk was taught to grasp the eagle by the 

 wing with its claws, and thus deprive the quarry 

 of the power to fly, with the result that the hunter 

 and the hunted would come tumbling down to the 

 ground. The owner of the hawk would then rush 

 up and endeavour to secure the king of birds before 

 it was able to free itself from the grasp of its diminu- 

 tive antagonist. The shabeen was used also for 

 flying at herons and storks. 



Under the name of gerfalcons are included the 



