36 LANNEB FALCON. 
character of being cowardly by nature. He says the greater number 
of these birds come from Sicily, where they build their nests among 
rocks or the branches of high trees. 
Before giving Schlegel's minute description of this bird, we will take 
the opportunity of saying a few words about the preparation of Falcons 
for Falconry, with which all the species in this number are so much 
connected, and which I shall abridge from the " Histoire Naturelle des 
Oiseaux," by Maout. 
The object of the Falconer in training his bird is to induce it to 
give up its own will, and to lose all confidence in its own resources. 
To do this the bird is first subdued by fear, and then attached by hope. 
First it is kept in the dark for perhaps sixty or seventy hours, during 
which time the Falconer has it always on his wrist, which is armed 
with shackles called "castings," or small leather straps, having belts at 
their extremities, with which they fasten together the bird's legs. While 
in this position it is not allowed to sleep, and if rebellious its head it 
dipped in cold water. It is also kept without food, until worn out by 
hunger and want of sleep it permits itself to be clothed in what is 
called a "chaperon," or hood. When it allows itself to be fed quietly, 
and then hooded again, it is considered tamed and accustomed to its 
master. The Falconer now uses artificial means to produce intense 
hunger, so that when appeased the bird may be more attached to the 
person who feeds it. This is the first lesson. 
The Falconer next takes his bird out into a garden, and if when 
unhooded, it will of its own accord jump on the wrist to feed, it is 
thought fit to be taught to understand " the lure," which is a piece of 
leather Avith the wings and claws of a bird attached to it, and a piece 
of meat. This, with the voice of the Falconer is the means adopted 
to bring back the bird when on the wing. After it has been practised 
in a garden it is taken into the open country, where, with a string 
attached to its legs, it is permitted to take short flights of about (at first) 
sixty feet from the earth, increased gradually, and brought back each 
time with the lure, and rewarded by the piece of meat. The bird is 
then trained upon tame birds until its education is complete, and it is 
fit for the field. 
Of the birds against which Falcons are flown, the Kite, the Heron, 
and the Crow are considered the best; such a chase being deemed fit 
for a prince, while that of the Pheasant, Partridge, or Wild-Duck, is 
considered fit for gentlemen! Some of the larger Falcons are occasion- 
ally used in pursuing the hare, and the Persians even use these birds 
in hunting the gazelle. They are trained for this purpose by feeding 
the Falcon on the nose of a stuffed gazelle. When they are thus 
