TRAINING AND ENTERING 95 



deception. Hawks, while pluming their quarry, keep a firm 

 hold of it with the inner talon of one foot, and often of both. 

 But it is easy to contrive that the outer talons of one foot shall 

 get hold of the pigeon, and afterwards to shift the inner talon 

 on to it. Then, as she goes on feeding, the other foot can be 

 shifted, and the real quarry stealthily withdrawn from under- 

 neath. As there is nothing that peregrines like better than 

 pigeon, your newly-entered hawk will, after a meal presented 

 to her in this fraudulent fashion, take a new view of the merits 

 of a hitherto despised quarry. 



It remains now to warn the beginner in the process of enter- 

 ing to beware of the hawk's carrying, that is, lifting or bolting 

 with the quarry. Unless you have very good reasons to suppose 

 that she will not do this, you should specially guard against it 

 from the first. When bagged quarry is used, attach a short 

 light string to it, such as will not materially impede its flight. 

 After the hawk has made a capture allow her to come with it 

 quietly to the ground. This she will do if accustomed always 

 to feed on the lure upon the ground. You will also, of course, 

 be in a place where there is no temptation, and, if possible, no 

 reasonable chance, of her taking it up into a tree. Then approach 

 her very gently and cautiously until you are near enough to 

 take hold of the end of the string. Having secured this, you 

 can prevent all attempts at carrying. Do not, however, on that 

 account hurry up. There is much art in " making in," as it is 

 called. You will have plenty of time ; for the mere plucking 

 or depluming of the quarry (always nearly completely finished 

 before the meal is begun) will last several minutes at least. Still 

 holding the string, go up very slowly, advancing a few inches 

 when my lady is intent on her booty, and stopping when she 

 looks up. Above all things avoid staring at her, which hawks 

 greatly dislike. Look any other way than towards her, and 

 walk rather obliquely towards her than in a direct line. When 

 you are nearly within arm's reach bend down. You may kneel 

 or even crawl along like a snake. When you begin to reach out 

 your hand towards her let it be garnished with a well-looking 

 piece of food. Get it gradually within reach of her ; then close 

 to her feet ; then near enough to touch the real dead quarry. 

 When you have hold of this you have gained another point. 

 But be patient and wary still. If you alarm the hawk, even a 

 little, it will throw you back terribly in your progress towards 

 making her. It may lead to the abominable vice of habitual 

 carrying, than which nothing is more annoying and more dan- 

 gerous. If by mishap the hawk should bolt, hold on gently 



