260 FALCONRY 



net, spread it open on the ground near the hack-board, and peg 

 down that half of it to which the bow is not fastened with half 

 a dozen pegs set round its outer edge. Then fold the bow 

 back over the pegged-down portion, tuck away all the loose 

 part of the net under the bow itself, till but little is seen except 

 the hazel stick lying on the ground. In the very centre of the 

 net place the food of the hawk, firmly pegged down, draw the 

 long line tight, and the net is ready. Care must be taken not 

 to allow the hawk which is wanted to feed with the others, and, 

 as it will probably be the shyest and wildest of them, it will be 

 easy enough to move it off till all the others have fed. Then 

 remove all food except the piece which is in the net, and ere 

 long the hawk will come to it. One pull of the line brings the 

 bow flying over the hawk's head ; the net is spread out to its 

 original shape of a circle, in the centre of which, under the net, 

 is the hawk. It must be secured as quickly and as quietly as 

 possible a hood put on its head, a swivel and leash attached 

 to the jesses, and then it should be tied down upon soft grass 

 with a block to sit upon, and so left to itself for an hour or 

 two to settle down. 



No unnecessary delay must intervene before training must 

 be seriously taken in hand. At first the young falcon must be 

 carried on hand for two or three hours at a time, being con- 

 tinually stroked with a feather and otherwise gently handled. 

 She will show great impatience at every touch and every strange 

 sound, but she will gradually settle down to her unaccustomed 

 perch and its concomitant disagreeables. As soon as she does 

 this she will pull at a piece of meat laid across her feet, and 

 will shortly take a fair meal through the hood. The next stage 

 is quietly to remove the hood, by candle-light, while the hawk 

 is feeding and hungry. Probably she will continue her meal 

 without taking much notice, but the hood must be replaced 

 ere the meal is at an end, and a few mouthfuls given after it is 

 put on ; for the appearance of the hood must never be associated 

 with the abrupt termination of dinner in the hawk's mind. 

 If, however, she will feed well and fearlessly by candle-light, 



