652 
MH. T. J. MANN ON HAWKS. 
work of the roof, on this are placed more heather sods having the 
heather side undermost, any old litter having been laid on over this 
to give the necessary rounding to the roof, another layer of sods, 
very neatly fitted to keep out the rain, is placed over all, heather 
xide up. To give more head-room, or as Paddy says, “ to heighten the 
roof,” the fioor is dug out : the hut will then just accommodate two 
men when sitting side by side on chairs, from which the backs have 
been removed (this being necessary to secure freedom of movement). 
Facing the east, and immediately under the wheel, an opening or 
window is cut through the wall, measuring two feet by one foot ; at 
the side, ^.e., north or south, a doorway is made large enough to allow 
of a full-sized man creeping through. ISio fixed door is used, but 
a kind of hurdle, built up of heather and split rods, is made to 
eft'ectually close and conceal the opening ; by this method, you will 
see that the hut is sufficiently disguised after nature to deceive even 
“rt Hawk’s eye." The actual working appliances, if so I may desig- 
nate them, are simple, but constructed and arranged with elaborate 
care, for there must be no point which differs in its detail from 
a perfectly natural appearance. About fifty yards from the hut, to 
the right and left of the window, are placed two fir poles from 
sixteen to twenty feet high, and about forty-five yards distant from 
each other (in the model, owing to want of space, these poles, the 
pigeon huts, and the l)ow-net are placed much nearer to the hut ; if 
therefore you will kindly imagine them to be removed about as far 
again from the hut as they now appear, you will realize their proper 
])osition; in other respects I believe the model to be fairly accurate). 
To the top of each of these poles a strong but light line is attached, 
which leads to the hut, passing through the window to the 
Falconer’s hand. These lines when not pulled tight will, as you 
can understand, pass down the poles and then along the ground to 
the hut. Ten or twelve yards down the line from the top of the 
left-hand pole, a trained Hawk is attached by the end of his leash, 
and yet a few yards further towards the hut a bunch of feathers is 
made fast. Xow notice what takes place Avhen the Falconer pulls 
this line : the Hawk and bunch of feathers are both suddenly 
raised many feet from the ground, and the line being pulled and 
held tight, the Hawk naturally flies round and round the line at 
the radius of his leash, and to any passing bird presents the appear- 
ance of being engaged in flying some live quarry, i.e., the bunch of 
