HAWKS AND HAWKING. 291 
Timely warning of the approach of a hawk is given by a tame 
Butcher-bird (the Great Grey Shrike), which, tethered close 
to the falconer’s hut, keeps a sharp look-out, and has so keen a 
vision that it can detect a hawk in the air long before the latter 
comes within the reach of human eyes. 
On being taken out of the net, gently yet firmly by the legs, the 
hawk is immediately hooded, and has a “jess,” or thin leather 
strap, put on each leg. To the other ends of these a “swivel” is 
attached, and through this again is passed the “leash,” by which 
the bird is fastened, first to a “block” of turf, and eventually to 
a perch. Later on a bell is attached to one leg. The hood 
renders it quiet, the soft jesses confine it without hurting it, the 
turf block prevents any injury to wings and tail when it “ bates,” 
or flutters. It is fed once a day (in the evening); the hood is not 
removed, but, having a large opening in front, the bird is enabled 
to feed through it while held upon the glove. It is always 
carried upon the left hand for convenience of “ hooding,” “ slip- 
ping,” “feeding,” &c., although eastern falconers carry it on the 
right. By degrees the bird gets tame, and will feed upon the 
hand without a hood. It is then taught to jump to the fist when 
called, and when it will do this readily the training commences, at 
first with a long string fastened to the swivel (instead of the 
leash), and ultimately the string is dispensed with. The hawk is 
always flown fasting, and on one or two days before going out for 
the first time it is desirable to give the hawk a live bird of 
the kind which it is intended to fly at, so as to accustom it to its 
appearance, and give it confidence. On days when it cannot be 
flown at live “ quarry” it may be exercised by being flown to the 
lure, a dead pigeon (or pair of wings weighted) tied at the end of 
a long string and whirled in the air by the falconer. Should a 
flight feather become broken, or injured, it is easily repaired by a 
process called “imping,” a description of which will be found 
in any book on Falconry.* 
I have said that hawks should be fed once a day, and it 
is best to accustom them to be fed in the afternoon. Peregrines 
and the larger falcons should have lean beef or bullock’s heart 
* Let me here recommend, as the best modern work on the subject, Salvin and 
Brodrick’s ‘ Falconry in the British Islands,’ royal octavo, published by Van Voorst. 
‘It is full of useful information, and contains coloured plates of the hawks admirably 
drawn from living specimens by Mr. Brodrick. 
