ORDER ACCIPITRES. 211 



intended for falconiy. The falconers teach this bird to fly 

 from one end to the other of a long cord attached to two logs 

 of wood, on which the owl rests after his flight. To accustom 

 the bird to this exercise, they shut him up in a chamber, in 

 which is placed, at a little distance from each other, two logs 

 of wood , separated by a tight cord, through which a ring is 

 passed ; to this ring another slacker cord is attached, which 

 also joins the cord of the bird's jesses : food is presented to the 

 owl on the side opposite to where he is, so that to come at it, 

 he is obliged to cross the interval by flying, without touching 

 the ground. This operation is repeated again and again, 

 until gradually the owl acquires a habit of crossing from one 

 side to the other, merely to change place. When the owl is 

 thus disciplined, they form, in a copse, a sort of saloon, in the 

 midst of which they place a log of wood, and another opposite 

 at about a hundred paces distant, having cleared away the 

 intermediate space. The top and sides of this place must be 

 covered by branches, which, while they suffer the inside to be 

 seen, will not permit a bird of prey to enter with unfolded 

 wings. Nets, called spider-nets, are suspended to the top and 

 sides, only leaving that part free which is opposite to where 

 the owl has been placed on the log : the fowler then retires 

 into a lodge or box prepared for the purpose, and judges that 

 the owl sees some rapacious bird in the air, by his lowering 

 his head, and turning the globe of the eye upwards. When 

 the enemy approaches, the owl passes from the log he is on to 

 the other in the centre of the saloon, and draws the rapacious 

 bird after him, who, on whichever side he comes, is embarrassed 

 in the nets, and seized by the fowler before he has time to 

 disengage himself. 



As soon as the bird of prey is taken, his legs are passed into 

 very strong manacles, the ring of which is crossed by a cord 

 Avhich serves as an attachment, and little bells are hung to his 

 feet. The person charged with training him fortifies his hand 



