PASSAGE HAWKS 73 



complete. On each side of the ring-peg, and about two feet 

 from it, are pegs which hold down the hinges of a bow-net, 

 something like that which was used for catching up the hack 

 hawks. The usual and best way of making a bow-net is to 

 take two equal lengths of strong wire, five or six feet long, and 

 bend each into a nearly semicircular arch. The two ends of 

 each hoop are twisted up into a ring, and the two hoops are 

 joined together so that a sort of easy hinge is formed at the 

 ends. A net of fine but strong string is stretched over the 

 whole circle formed by the two hoops. When it is set, one-half 

 of it is pegged down flat on the ground and the other is folded 

 back over it. To the middle of the upper hoop is attached a 

 fourth long line, D, by which it can be pulled over, so that when 

 the line is taut the hoops form a circle, with the net covering 

 all the space between the hinges. This will explain how the 

 falconer, ensconced in his hut, can, by a pull at the long line 

 D, passing through a ground peg to the arch of the bow-net, 

 pull it over the ring through which the line C passes. Thus 

 there are four lines of which the ends lie in the floor of the hut, 

 each marked with a different colour, and each requiring to be 

 worked with prompt and accurate skill at the eventful moment. 

 We can now understand the whole process of entrapping 

 the passage hawk, and shall find that it includes the following 

 movements: — (i) Pointing of the shrike; (2) removal of the 

 turf shutter, and observation of the coming hawk through the 

 field-glass ; (3) pulling of the lines A and B, by which the pole- 

 pigeon and the pole-hawk are made to flutter or fly about and 

 show themselves ; (4) slackening of these lines and escape of 

 the pole-pigeon, pole-hawk, and shrike, under their respective 

 places of shelter. By this time the wild hawk ought to be close 

 at hand, and eagerly looking out for the pigeon which has so 

 mysteriously disappeared. Then (5) tightening of the line C, 

 by which the hitherto unseen pigeon is pulled out of his box, 

 and displayed to the expectant hawk above ; (6) capture of this 

 pigeon by the hawk. Next (7) a much stronger and steadier 

 pull is given to the line C, by which the far end of it is dragged 

 — pigeon, hawk, and all — towards the ring between the horns 

 of the bow-net. As soon as the pigeon, with the hawk upon it, 

 has got to this ring, a piece of tape or ribbon fastened on to a 

 particular place on the line C will have been pulled to a certain 

 place within the hut, and will warn the falconer that he need 

 pull it no farther, as all things are now ready for the next and 

 most critical move. Then, holding the line C still tight in one 

 hand, the operator (8) will, with a quick well-sustained effort, 



