204 ART AND PRACTICE OF HAWKING 



but if live lures are commonly used they lose part of their 

 efficacy, and are apt to become almost as much despised as 

 the ordinary dead ones. Of course when live lures are used 

 pains will be taken to make the process as little disagreeable 

 as possible to the creature whose life is risked. When a pigeon 

 is employed, as it almost always is for any of the big hawks, a 

 pair of soft and broad jesses should be attached to its legs, and 

 the ends of those to a strong but fine cord or creance, or a 

 noose of soft cord may be passed round each leg by means of 

 the double-ring knot shown in Figs. 26, 27. 



When the pigeon (or lark or other bird) is thrown up it 

 should be allowed to fly a short distance, then gently stopped 

 by the creance and allowed to alight on the ground. As the 

 hawk comes at it, it can be jerked away with a steady pull, 

 and, as the hawk throws up, it can be secured and hidden, 

 while a dead pigeon of the same colour is thrown down in its 

 place. No great amount of dexterity is required to execute 

 this little manoeuvre. The hawk will be taken up on the dead 

 bird, and the live one liberated or returned to its dovecot 

 none the worse for its perilous adventure. It is only when the 

 falconer bungles his part of the business that the live lure is 

 struck and either killed or hurt. 



For sparrow-hawks or merlins, when they decline to come 

 down, and stand waiting for the chance of another flight, 

 another device may sometimes be employed with a view to 

 saving time. There has been an unsuccessful flight, and the 

 little hawk goes to perch upon a rick, neglectful of the proffered 

 fist or lure. She came out, as she has made up her mind, to 

 taste blood, and blood she means to have, if she has to wait for 

 it till sundown. As you cannot afford to wait her good pleasure 

 till then, you may settle the matter by a sort of compromise. 

 Leave her to herself upon the rick, and walk the surrounding 

 country until you put up the quarry of which she is so much in 

 want. By driving the fields or hedges constantly towards her 

 you may beat a considerable extent of ground. If you draw it 

 blank go on a little farther. As the hawk sees you beginning 

 to beat that farther country, ten to one she will come on after 

 you and take up her position on a fresh resting-place nearer 

 the scene of your operations. You may go on thus sometimes 

 for quite a long walk, the hawk not, indeed, standing on your 

 fist in orthodox style, but keeping in a place where she can 

 start at anything you put up with a fair chance of overtaking it. 

 As soon as anything so put up has been taken, you pick up 



