246 A YEAR OF SPORT AND NATURAL HISTORY. 



general principle which underlies the whole art of falconry, that a 

 hawk is flown fasting, and is rewarded for killing, or for coming 

 back after an unsuccessful flight. Hence the use of the " lure " — 

 a dead pigeon at the end of a string, or a couple of wings tied 

 together and weighted, and garnished with some raw meat, which 

 is only shown to the hawk at feeding-time, or when she is required 

 to return to her owner, or, again, if she is too far down wind, when 

 the dogs are " standing." As a rule hawks are fed but once a 

 day, about five o'clock in the afternoon ; but Merlins are all the 

 better for having a light morning meal in addition, about 7 a.m. 

 Indeed, we have found it a good plan to give all hawks a mouthful 

 or two in the morning, after they have got rid of their casting 

 (that is, after they have thrown up the indigestible portion of their 

 food, in the form of an oval pellet), and at the moment of taking 

 them from the "perch" to set them down upon the "block" to 

 bathe. This puts them in good humour, prevents them from 

 " bating " too much, and an hour or two after they have got 

 perfectly dry they are keen and in good order for flying. After a 

 hawk has been "called off" to the "lure," at first with a 

 " creance " or long light line attached to the "jesses," and 

 afterwards without it, she has to be " entered " to the particular 

 "quarry " at which she is intended to be flown. This can best be 

 done by previously shooting a partridge, and, while the hawk is 

 on the wing, throwing it out to her in a long line with which she 

 can be checked in case she should attempt to carry the bird 

 away. 



When this has been done a few times, the hawk being always 

 allowed time to break into the " quarry " and get a few good mouth- 

 fuls before being taken up, she may be flown at a live partridge. And 



