DISEASES OF HAWKS 385 



be given without castings and on an empty stomach. A little 

 light warm food should be given, as a freshly-killed pigeon or 

 rabbit, at frequent intervals as the hawk seems able to take it, 

 and the rhubarb dose may be repeated for two or three days 

 (but not more) until the hawk is able to digest a full meal. 



The falconer will always examine with special care both 

 the mutes or droppings as well as the castings of his hawks in 

 order that he may judge of their condition of health. The 

 mutes should be perfectly white, of the consistency of cream, 

 with occasionally a black spot in them ; if they are thick or 

 with much black in them the hawk is out of order. Green 

 mutes are a very bad sign, generally indicating an advanced 

 stage of inflammation of the crop, For all disorders of this 

 kind rhubarb is the best and safest remedy, but not more than 

 three or four consecutive doses should be given without an 

 interval of some days, or it loses its effect. Sugar candy and 

 manna are also useful and harmless laxatives. Hawks are 

 liable to fits, both epileptic and apoplectic, especially when 

 very fat and suddenly excited or frightened. We cannot re- 

 commend with confidence any remedy except keeping the hawk 

 perfectly quiet and feeding her lightly, getting her as soon as 

 possible into better condition. 



Hawks that are taken too young from the nest or that have 

 been much exposed to cold when taken are sometimes seized 

 with cramp in the legs ; this will completely paralyse- the limbs 

 and render the bird useless. Indeed, in bad cases we have 

 known the bones of the leg dislocated. Mild attacks will 

 sometimes pass off of themselves, but there is no remedy for 

 bad cases. 



Swelled feet and corns are common but troublesome com- 

 plaints which affect trained hawks. The first and more serious 

 form of the disease is a swelling and inflammation of the whole 

 ball of the foot ; the latter are small tumours which appear 

 on different parts of the foot and generally come slowly to a 

 head, open, and discharge their contents in the form of a core 

 cf hardened pus. Time is generally the best cure for this 



c c 



