38 PRACTICAL FALCONRY. 
most easily managed, and when in constant practice nothing can 
beat them. This is certainly not a sport to be undertaken 
singlehanded; you can’t go out with your tiercel on your fist 
unattended if there is to be a hope of success—unless, indeed, in 
unusual cases—for magpies, as a rule, are found in the neighbour- 
hood of trees and hedges. There may be here and there a common 
where they may be seen, and which is so broad that a hawk 
may kill them before they can reach covert; but, even if such 
a place could easily be found, it would hardly be chosen for the 
sport. What is wanted is a good grass country, tolerably free 
from wood; here and there a tree, large inclosures, and neatly-kept 
fences. The magpie should have a refuge, in this place and that, 
but no covert must be so great that he can be lost init. The flight 
should be run after by some, and ridden after by others; for both 
horsemen and footmen are very useful to drive the quarry from 
a hedgerow, bush, or tree. When he takes to a hedge, let him 
be well pressed from both sides of his position—i.e., let some 
of the field be above and some below him, each party beating 
and approaching the other. The moment he leaves he will 
be stooped at, first by one hawk, then by another (for two are 
used), and he will require the attention of several persons to 
keep him from covert, or rather to put him out of it. 
Once thoroughly in the broad open, he is easily killed. I need 
not say he has no speed, for everyone knows that; but he has 
cunning and adroitness almost beyond belief. Several magpies 
may be taken in a day with a cast (two) of peregrines, or, indeed, 
even with one hawk. With pewits trained hawks can do nothing. 
They may fly them at first, but they soon give them up — the 
dodging is too much for any bird; and yet wild peregrines will 
occasionally take them, and a man saw one of my hack hawks kill 
one easily. But all trained hawks, except a few of the very best, 
will do better by themselves—i.e., when they have left you for an 
