186 ART AND PRACTICE OF HAWKING 



may be curtailed, or in feeding up after the day's exercise she 

 may be indulged only with a good half-crop, instead of the 

 habitual three-quarters. When a peregrine or hawk of similar 

 habits is inclined to be uppish, and to disdain the dead lure, it is 

 a good plan, besides being a shade stingy at dinner-time, to 

 fly her each day at least an hour later than the day before. 

 When, in this way, her time of flying has got to be so late that 

 it cannot be deferred till later on the following day, give her 

 a gorge, or at least a very full meal, when she has done flying, 

 and on the next day, an hour after she has cast, give her quite 

 a light feed, and do not fly her at all till the day after at 

 noon. Sakers, lanners, and that class of hawks must be rather 

 sternly treated if they get above themselves, for their nature is 

 to support long fasts without much trouble. And eagles, of 

 course, must sometimes be almost starved a little. 



Remember always that the food given to a trained hawk 

 belongs to one or other of several categories, which rank differ- 

 ently as regards nutritive power. Highest on the list is the flesh 

 of birds or other animals eaten immediately after they are killed, 

 while the life-blood is still warm within them. The meals of 

 wild hawks are, as a rule, of this description ; and these accord- 

 ingly, by virtue of their diet, as well as of their habits, are the 

 most vigorous and healthy of all. Next in order comes the 

 flesh of such creatures as have been killed long enough to grow 

 cold. And in the last rank must be placed washed meat — artifi- 

 cially reduced to its least nutritive character. When it is 

 desired to improve the condition of a hawk, food of the first 

 class will most quickly and most surely effect the object. Any 

 hawk which is found to be below par should have at the first 

 opportunity at least one " bloody crop," i.e. should either be 

 allowed to take her pleasure on some quarry which she has her- 

 self killed, or be indulged with a pigeon, duck, fowl, or other 

 animal which has just been killed. The flesh of animals, whether 

 freshly killed or not, differs a good deal in quality. Pigeons, 

 duck, plovers, and sparrows are about the most nourishing; 

 chickens, rabbits, quails, larks, and mice, somewhat less so. The 

 flesh of rooks, gulls, magpies, water-hens, and coots is not very 

 palatable ; and some trained hawks will not touch it. None 

 are likely to improve in condition if fed upon it. There is 

 nothing a trained hawk likes better than good tender beef, 

 especially if it is slightly warmed before being given. It is also 

 very sustaining, and will increase a hawk's weight rapidly, when 

 a generous allowance of it is made. It is, however, much heavier 



