136 PEREGRINE FALCON. 



last are tamed with much more difficulty, but 

 patience and dexterity at length succeed, and, in 

 terms of Falconry, make them fit for the Fray. 

 When they are too wild, they are neither fed, nor 

 suffered to sleep for three or four days and nights, 

 and are never left alone; by which means they 

 gradually become familiarized to the Falconer, and 

 are obedient to all his commands*. His principal 

 care is to accustom them to settle on his fist; to 

 spring when he throws them off; to know his 

 voice, his singing, his whistle, or any other signal 

 he gives them ; and to return to order on his fist. 

 At first they are tied with a string of about thirty 

 fathoms in length, to prevent them from flying 

 away; and they are not freed from this till they are 

 completely disciplined, and return at the proper 

 call or signal. To accomplish this the bird must 

 be lured. The lure is a piece of red stuff or wool, 

 on which are fixed a bill, talons, and wings. To 

 this is likewise fastened a piece of that flesh on 

 which the bird feeds, and the lure is thrown out to 

 him when they intend to reclaim or recall him. 

 The sight of the food he lows, with the addition 

 of a certain noise, immediately brings him back. 

 In a little time the voice alone is sufficient. The 

 various plumage with which the lure is set off is 

 called a Drawer. When they accustom the Hawk 

 to fly at a Kite, a Heron, or a Partridge, they 



* A method has been sorretirr.es practised of placing an 

 unquiet Hawk in a smith's shop for a certain time; where, by 

 the continual noise of the hammering, he has become gentle and 



tractable. 



