OBSERVATIONS UPON HAWKING. 421 



(14). On the subject of "weathering" (MS. p. 55), Downes 

 observes: — "Passage Hawks are weathered by pegging them 

 down by their leash near a small hillock covered with a flag of 

 grass, giving a mouthful or two, and unhooding them, walking 

 close before them backward and forward all the time. They are 

 sometimes set upon these hillocks in their hoods to weather." 



(15). The " cage " is thus described by Downes (MS. p. 58) : 

 — " The cage is 4J ft. in length and 2 ft. in width. Instead of 

 canvas stretched across, slight rods of hazel or elm are placed 

 across each end reaching 18 in., leaving 20 in. for the man ; the 

 rods prevent the Hawks from dropping down in the inside when 

 they bate. The legs are on the sides, 13 in. from the corners ; 

 at the corners they would be in the way and hurt the birds." 



The printed treatise ends with the statement that the " several 

 instruments used in falconry are well represented in the plates 

 of the French 'Encyclopaedia,' printed in 1751." The MS., 

 however, contains this additional remark (p. 59) : — " This is the 

 common way of breaking the eyess, but I am of opinion that it 

 may be better done, and certainly with much less trouble, by 

 accustoming him to feed upon the lure when he is flying at hack ; 

 he would soon learn to follow it when swung round in the air. 

 The falconer might kneel down to him when he is feeding upon 

 the lure, and give him food from the hand. A few live Partridges 

 should be thrown up to the Hawk just before the commencement 

 of the season, and he should be allowed to eat them close to the 

 falconer. I have no doubt but by this treatment a young Hawk 

 would be fit for use as soon as he was taken up. Nothing would 

 remain to be done but to accustom him to stand to be hooded." 



This passage has been introduced at p. 19 of the printed 

 treatise, and on the next page the following paragraph (slightly 

 altered), which is written on the back of p. 58 of the MS. : — " If 

 young birds are fed at daybreak they may be kept long in a 

 state of liberty before they will prey for themselves ; for they 

 have no inclination to pursue game when not impelled by 

 hunger." 



On the last page of the MS. is written in pencil : — " This 

 manuscript of Sir John Saunders Sebright's ' Observations upon 

 Hawking' was given to me by Sir John Sebright, Bt., at 

 Beechwood, on Thursday, the 25th of September, 1828. — 

 J. D. Downes." 



