2i6 THE RABBIT 



self with some modern treatise on the subject (such 

 as ' Hints on the Management of Hawks,' pubUshed 

 at The Field office), wherein he will learn the rudi- 

 ments of falconry, and find a special chapter on the 

 goshawk. If he mshes to find real enjoyment in the 

 sport, he must train the bird himself, and not depute 

 it to another. A hawk must learn to know her owner, 

 or she will not allow him to take her up when she has 

 killed her quarry. She must be fed by him ; carried 

 by him on the glove as much as possible, bare-headed, 

 that is unhooded, to accustom her to the sight of 

 men and dogs, that she may put off all fear and 

 become as fond of him as a dog would be, knowing 

 his voice and obeying his call, or 'lure.' 



Supposing that the hawk has had put on the legs, 

 just above the feet, 'jesses' (or little leather straps) 

 by which she is held, to the ends of which are attached 

 the ' swivel ' and ' leash ' by means of which she is 

 tethered to the 'perch' or 'block,' the first step is to 

 get her to come off the perch on to the glove to be 

 fed ; and this is accomplished by offering a little bit 

 of meat, or the leg of a fowl, or rabbit. ^\'hen she 

 will step readily on to the fist, the leash being untied, 

 the distance should be increased from a foot to a 

 yard, and at length to several yards, until eventually 

 she will fly willingl)' across the room to her master. 



