2J2 CLASS AVES. 



with a glove, and taking the bird on his fist, fatigues him as 

 long as possible in an obscure place, without allowing him to 

 take food, so that his strength being exhausted, he may be 

 the better prepared for submission. When the bird agitates 

 himself very much, and attempts to use his beak, they throw 

 cold water on his head, and even plunge it into a vessel of that 

 liquid. When by these means they conquer his spirit, which 

 is usually done in three days and three nights, they cover his 

 head with a hood, which is taken off and put on, according as 

 he accustoms himself to take food uncovered, which they pre- 

 sent to him from time to time. To weaken the bird more 

 speedily, they make him swallow little pellets of hemp, which 

 produce a purgative effect: these are called cures. Having 

 thus succeeded in making him take food easily, they carry him 

 into a garden, where he is uncovered, and showing him the 

 prepared meat, Avhich Ave have already mentioned, and which 

 is held a little elevated, they accustom him to leap upon the 

 hand. When he does this with facility, they place the meat 

 on a representation of a bird, formed by an assemblage of wings 

 and legs, which is called lure (leurre), and to which they 

 attract him successively from a greater distance, holding him 

 always by the cord. When he has had so much training that 

 he will pounce upon the lure, from the whole length of his 

 tether, they accustom him to know and examine the game 

 which he is destined to hunt. This is done by attaching the 

 game to the lure, and allowing it to run or fly near the bird ; 

 first attached by a packthread, then at liberty, until they think 

 they can trust to him free of all restraint. 



When it is possible to choose birds for training, the falconers 

 prefer those whose shape is the most easy and elegant, glance 

 the proudest and most assured, toes the most elongated, grasp 

 the most ample, and whose plumage is the deepest, and least 

 charged with spots. Neither is the education exactly the same 

 for the rowers and sailers, and it also varies according to the 



