MEWS 369 



those which are so inclined will have bathed and got thoroughly 

 dry ; but when hawks are being flown every day, and perhaps 

 late in the day, they cannot be so fed as to be ready early the 

 next morning, and therefore, when the same lot of hawks are 

 being daily used, the sport must take place in the afternoon for 

 the most part. 



The blocks on which hawks are kept in a garden or on a 

 lawn are made in different ways, but the best pattern is the 

 simplest and the cheapest of all. Take a plain simple log of wood 

 with the bark upon it, saw into lengths fourteen inches long and 

 six inches in diameter ; drive into the base thereof an iron 

 spike ten inches long, the end of which is then sharpened so 

 as to be driven into the ground and thus hold the block firmly. 

 Into the centre of the top drive an iron staple, to which the 

 leash is to be tied, and for a few pence a block is produced 

 that cannot be surpassed for all practical purposes. Hardwood 

 of any kind is the best, for fir decays, loses its bark, and rots from 

 the staple, which may thus wax loose. Birch with the bark on 

 it makes a very neat, pretty-looking block, and a very durable 

 one ; while holly, if it can be obtained of large enough size, is 

 almost imperishable and very neat. Both blocks and perches 

 have been devised of various and more or less complicated forms. 

 Blocks which revolve and blocks which do not ; with fixed staples 

 and with revolving rings (which have been known to .break, and 

 which invariably jam). Blocks of the shape of wine-glasses on 

 stems, of wine-glasses without stems, and of wine-glasses upside 

 down, are all recommended by their various inventors ; but the 

 only advantages we could ever see in them are those which 

 are obtained by the turner and the carpenter, who are able to 

 charge roundly for their manufacture ! 



Short-winged hawks, and also merlins, are better kept on 

 the bow-perch which is figured on p. 341. This is best made 

 of a simple piece of hazel or ash, shaved on the lower side to 

 make it bend readily, and kept in its position by a stout piece 

 of iron wire bent round the bow and securely fastened. The 

 ends of the bow should be shod with iron, so as to be driven 



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