12 FIELD-NOTES FOR THE YEAR. CH. XXI. 



remained of the poor owl was a leg or two and 

 some of the longer feathers. 



The country in its present enclosed state is not 

 so well adapted to the sport of hawking as formerly ; 

 but, as far as relates to the training of the birds, 

 the process is much more simple and easy than is 

 generally supposed. Of course the trainer must 

 take in hand a bird of the proper kind, such as a 

 peregrine, a merlin, or an Iceland or ger falcon. 

 A goshawk is tractable enough ; but has not the 

 same dash and rapid flight as any of the true long- 

 winged falcons. 



The first step is to accustom your bird to the 

 hood, without which you can do nothing ; but most 

 hawks allow themselves to be hooded quietly enough, 

 and are then to a great degree under your com- 

 mand, as when hooded you can carry her when and 

 where you like on your hand, and familiarise her to 

 your voice and to being handled. 



The next step is to accustom the hawk to feed on 

 the lure, and only on the lure, so as to fly directly 

 to it whenever she sees it : indeed, the lure ought 

 only to be shown when the bird is to feed. 



These two points gained, you must proceed to 

 flying the hawk in an open field, substituting a long 

 silken string, or " creance," for the short leathern 

 strap, the "leash," by which you always hold. 



