62 ART AND PRACTICE OF HAWKING 



meet with. It is, however, generally possible for him to get his 

 hawks hacked by some other person, or to purchase fully-hacked 

 hawks after they have been taken up. The worst of it is that 

 unless you know a good deal about the deputy hawk-master, 

 you have no guarantee that the month's hack which they are 

 supposed to have had is real or imaginary. 



On the first or second day of hack the falconer should make 

 up his mind whether he will hack his hawks to the lure, to the 

 fist, or to the board. For short-winged hawks the fist or the 

 board is preferable. For gers, peregrines, and hobbies, the board 

 or the lure. For merlins, the lure and the fist, combined in such 

 proportions as seems to be most suitable ; generally more of the 

 lure than of the fist. Each of the systems has its merits, and 

 each its defects. 



If the board is chosen, it must be substituted at once for the 

 lure which was used on the first day. It consists of a plank or 

 log of wood, the lower side of which rests on the ground, while 

 to the top side is attached the food for the expected guests. 

 One ration should be provided for each hawk out — at intervals of 

 two feet or so all along the board. It is very important that 

 the meat should be so attached that it cannot be pulled off and 

 carried away, but must be, strictly speaking, consumed on the pre- 

 mises. When the feast consists of rabbits' legs, fowls' wings, or the 

 like, it can be firmly tied by the bone. But, when meat is given, 

 much care and ingenuity is required to make it fast. Perhaps the 

 best plan is to tie the piece tightly by the two opposite corners. 

 If it is possible for a hawk to bolt with a substantial piece, she 

 is quite likely to do so. And, having done so once, she will try 

 to do it again, especially if she happens to be a shy hawk, and 

 afraid of her stronger sisters who are beside her at the board. 



It must be confessed that hawks at hack exhibit a good deal of 

 perversity in their dealings with the hack board. Theoretically, 

 each of them ought to come down punctually at meal-time, and 

 take her place at the al fresco table, where she can eat up in 

 peace and quiet the portion set out for her, without interference 

 by or with her neighbours. But, as a matter of fact, I regret to 

 say that, instead of adopting this rational and orderly course, 

 hack hawks are often no better behaved than an American 

 traveller at a roadside feeding-place, or a dowager at a ball-supper. 

 As soon as the first comer has settled down to that part of" the 

 board to which chance or choice has brought her, the next comer 

 will make straight for the same spot, taking no notice whatever of 

 the dainty morsels with which the rest of the board is bedecked. 

 Thereupon, of course, squabblings and bickerings, and probably 



