42 PRACTICAL FALCONRY. 
them “carrying ”’—a fault to which they are peculiarly liable. A 
thin rod, shutting up like a telescope, with a sort of claw at the end, 
to place, but very carefully, upon the captured lark in the hawk’s feet, 
with a small ring opposite the claw, to which # tempting piece of 
beefsteak is fastened, helps the falconer sometimes. Unless badly 
trained, it is only when the hand approaches very small quarry that 
these little fellows will think of moving. Merlins are not taught to 
“wait on,” though they might be in a measure; it is not wanted for 
their flights. I have flown snipe with these birds, as also with 
the peregrine, and have had many “puts in” with both, but 
have never killed. Nor have I killed a full-grown partridge 
with a merlin, but it has been done. I really never stuck to «i 
thoroughly. 
Bagged larks to merlins, bagged rooks to peregrines, should never 
be ostentatiously thrown up as bagged; for if they are, you Mushy 
not expect your hawks to look at wild quarry. Shorten the flight 
perhaps of your bagged bird, but try to let it appear wild. Bagged 
quarry is good under certain circumstances, but much delicacy and 
judgment is required in giving it. When a merlin has “ putin’ 
lark after lark, a bagged lark in a string (when the wild one cannot 
be retrieved) is excellent. And, to make “ putting-in” probable, 
instead of flying two merlins at an October lark, fly one, so as to 
drive the lark down; for, not finding a second enemy underneath, he 
may come down into a hedge; then give your bagged bird—i.e., of 
course, unless you soon get the one flown at. 
We now come to goshawks, but these will also be found to have 
a place in “ How I became a Falconer.” The great matters are to 
carry them, and (if possible) get them carried by a trustworthy 
person, some few hours a day in all, very soon after they are received, 
to keep the bow-perch in a tolerably public place—of course on 
grass, and to call the bird often to the fist from a wall or gate, 
increasing the distance, and using a string at first. They will come 
