PASSAGE HAWKS 83 



training, the grand secret of discipline is carrying. It would 

 perhaps be difficult to say why the mere transporting of a 

 hawk, hooded or unhooded, upon the glove from place to place 

 should have so great an effect ; but the experience of centuries 

 has shown that it does, and this ought to be enough for the 

 beginner. When he has carried hawks for some hundreds of 

 hours, he will acknowledge the truth of the old theory ; then 

 possibly he will be able to explain it to others or to himself. 

 In the meantime he will do well to take it on trust, and adopt 

 the practice without question. If, as he walks about or rides 

 or sits — for the ambulatory part of the process is not com- 

 pulsory — he is amongst other people, it will be all the better. 

 The sound of the human voice, naturally and instinctively 

 trying to all wild creatures, will by familiarity with it become 

 less alarming. And with the diminution of the uneasiness 

 originally caused by the voice will come a lessening of the 

 distrust felt for the man who owns the voice. It is almost 

 needless to say that the falconer's voice, especially at times 

 when the hawk is unhooded and in sight, should be soft and 

 soothing in tone. We modern trainers do not use the voice 

 much, as the old falconers did, in educating and directing our 

 pupils. And therein, probably, we make a great mistake. 

 But, however incredulous anyone may be as to the charms 

 of the "falconer's voice" for which Juliet so prettily sighed, it 

 is at least natural to suppose that the harsh tones of an angry 

 or peevish man must give any intelligent animal a bad notion 

 of his character, and, by analogy, of that of the whole human 

 race. 



The actions of the trainer should, like the voice, be gentle 

 and conciliatory. In fact his whole behaviour, when in his 

 pupil's presence, must be, as Turbervile recommends, friendly, 

 lovable, and free from offence. " Sit procul omne nefas : ut 

 ameris, amabilis esto ! " And the hawk should not only like 

 the trainer, but also respect him for his equanimity and self- 

 control. Do you not want to convince your disciple that you 

 are wiser as well as stronger than she? and yet that you are 

 ready to pay respect to her own pride, and even some of her 

 prejudices? "Maxima debetur falconi reverentia"; and if 

 you exhibit petulance and ill-temper yourself, how can you 

 expect that she will be amiable in return ? Rough and sudden 

 movements must never be made in the near neighbourhood 

 of an unhooded hawk. Nay, they must be very watchfully 

 guarded against, or they are nearly sure to be involuntarily 

 made. Has a gnat got into your eye, as you are walking about 



