HOME LIFE 177 



a large amount of pretty fast flying when stooping at the dead 

 lure. This sort of practice is of course not to be encouraged in 

 the case of game-hawks or duck-hawks, as tending to lower their 

 pitch, which it is the chief desire of the falconer to keep as high 

 as possible. But long-winged hawks, even in the mere act of 

 waiting on, especially in a strong wind, get a good breather 

 and a good stretching of their wings, if they are always allowed 

 to be uncertain in their own minds whether in the end it will be 

 a partridge or a pigeon that they will have to come down for, 

 or merely the dead lure. 



As for the short-winged hawks, and for such others as will 

 not keep on the wing willingly without going to perch, they 

 must be exercised chiefly by the device known as calling off. 

 The most effective plan is that mentioned in Chapter VI., where 

 two men go out, and, standing at a distance from one another, 

 alternately bring the hawk across the intervening space by 

 showing the lure or the outstretched fist. If two men are not 

 available the hawk may be deposited on a railing, gate, or post, 

 and the falconer may walk away, hiding his hands, and when 

 he is as far off as he likes, or as the hawk will allow him to go, 

 may call her and reward her with a few morsels, and then put 

 her down again for the operation to be repeated. A trained 

 hawk will often follow the falconer about for a long time, as he 

 walks along, waiting a while in expectation of being called, and, 

 if disappointed, flitting to a nearer resting-place, or coming 

 right up to him on the chance that his hand will be held out ; 

 and if it is not, betaking herself to a neighbouring tree or other 

 convenient place. Such excursions as these, in a park or on 

 the downs, with a favourite hawk always in sight, either in 

 the air or on a conspicuous perch of her own choosing, afford 

 an opportunity of indulging her with the best possible sort of 

 weathering. It is the nearest approach which can safely be 

 made to giving trained hawks their liberty. 



It is a common thing with writers on hawking to recom- 

 mend their readers, when a trained hawk is out of sorts, to put 

 her on a pair of hack-bells, and turn her out to hack for a while. I 

 desire to speak with all respect of a practice which has doubt- 

 less been often attempted with success ; but I am compelled to 

 say that my own experience is altogether unfavourable to any 

 such experiment. Attempts that I have known made to keep 

 trained hawks at hack have not only failed, but have over and 

 over again entailed the loss of the bird operated upon, some- 

 times for a time, and sometimes permanently. A strong and 



