244 FALCONRY 



Many a fine falcon has been made into an incurable 

 * jumper' or a 'restless brute' by straining to get at a ray of 

 light which fell through an ill-made hood, and was just enough 

 to do away with all the effect of hooding her, while at the same 

 time it gave her no comfort or sense of freedom. 



A good pattern of hood, nearly akin to the Indian pattern, 

 made out of one piece, is given in * Falconry in the British 

 Isles,' Plate XVI., but we have never seen this hood in actual 



FIG. i. Dutch hood 



use. The Indian hoods are excellent, easily made, and most 

 comfortable to the hawk. In fact, they are perfection so long 

 as the hawk is on hand ; but hawks can readily get them off 

 if left hooded by themselves, and therefore there are many 

 occasions on which they are useless. 



Rufter hoods are light caps of leather which blindfold the 

 hawk, but are open at the back, and securely tied with a strap 

 and button round the neck. Hawks can readily feed through 

 them, but they cannot be taken on and off, and are only used 

 for the controlling of hawks that are just caught. 



