MK. T. J. MANN ON HAWKS. 
Go 7 
tlie iron ring previously referred to, on and on, struggling and 
lluttering, until at last, check ! The Falconer knows by the sudden 
dead resistance (for he cannot see) that his prey has been dragged 
to the centre of the bow-net circle, i.e. the iron ring. Taking 
a linn grip of the bow-net wire, the Falconer gives a long pull and 
a strong jmll, and if commonly fortunate, his patience and skill are 
rewarded by the capture of a fine Ptissage Hawk. Having taken 
the Hawk, tire Falconer proceeds to withdraw it from the bow-net 
by the legs, great care being reejuisite to avoid damaging any of the 
feathers. Once clear of the net, a .Sw/r, that is, the ankle portion 
of a stocking, is slipped over the Hawk downwards from the hcatl, 
and a rufter-hood having been put on, the captive is removed to 
the hut, where he lies helpless as in a straight waistcoat. 
Ey ESSES. 
In this .age of the Pheasant rearing and battue craze, and of 
specimen-collecting for the birdstulfer to distort, it is a matter of 
surprise to me that any I’eregrines are allow'ed to exist, let alone to 
breed on our dills. Still many landow'ners, I am delighted to say, 
do all in their pow'er to prevent any disturbance to the Eyrie, but 
when this happens to be placed on a sea cliff the shore-shooters 
are beyond all control. I have known an incident which is won- 
derful to me, when I consider how few Peregrines we have, of 
a pair of I’erogrines ; the Tiercel wivs shot, but in fourteen days the 
Falcon appeared with another mate, nested, and finally reared her 
young. The general method by which, with considerable danger, 
Eyesses are obtained, is by men or boys, wdio with the aid of ropes 
and chock cords are cool enough to go over the cliffs in the hope 
of reaching the Eyrie. From what I have seen, the greatest danger 
is to be feared from firlling stones and rocks, and the fretting 
through of the retaining rope. Many cliff climbers thus risk 
their lives to reach the Eyrie, not I fear in most instances to 
obtain the Eyesses, hut the efjgs, by which act of vandalism all 
chance of securing the Eyesses is lost to the Falconer, who has 
therefore to fall back on Passage Hawks. It is an acknowledged 
fact, that a pair of birds whose nest has once been robbed will 
invariably select the next season a position far more difticult of 
access, if possible beneath some overhanging crag, so that for the 
cliff climbers to swing in under even with the assistance of their 
