HAWKING. 
to cage tlie young hawks even when they have attained 
sufficient strength of wing to mount to the tops of buildings. 
They may even take a short flight away, but, provided they 
can depend to a minute what hour their dinner or supper will 
be ready, you may make sure of finding them at these times 
close at hand. Their food should be cut so small that each 
piece be no more than a mouthful, or it may be given them in 
one large piece. In this latter case, however, the lump of 
meat must be securely fastened to a board on the ground, or 
the bird’s nature will prompt it to carry off the meal and 
devour it where it chooses; besides, to accustom it to eat in 
the falconer’s presence, will tend to prevent it flying off with 
the game it brings down when its education is perfect. You 
may easily know when it is necessary to take them seriously in 
hand, for they will presently come home irregularly, which is a 
certain sign that they have learnt to hunt for themselves. 
To capture them for training is called “ taking them up,” and 
is managed by fastening a piece of meat to the ground with a 
small bow-net, so arranged as to be drawn over them when 
they are feeding ; or one end of a long string may be fixed on 
the ground, and a slip-knot so placed round the meat as to be 
drawn about their legs. Small leaden bells are sometimes 
attached to the hawks’ legs, to prevent their preying on each 
other. When thus kept they are termed hack hawks, and 
even after they have been flown at game, by this arrangement 
they may be left at liberty. 
It is now that the falconer’s art is put in requisition. 
The Hood, or leather cap, is put on the 
hawk’s head the moment he is taken up. This 
is so constructed as to prevent him from seeing, 
while it allows him to feed ; it can be taken off 
and on at pleasure, and requires some dexterity 
to adjust it. It is advisable that a lay figure 
should be experimented on first, or the novice 
may make the acquaintance of the hawk’s beak 
rufter hood, in a sudden and unpleasant manner. 
The Jesses (slips of leather, seven or eight 
inches long, and a quarter of an inch wide) are then made 
fast to the legs, and attached to a small swivel fixed to the end 
of a thong of leather three or four feet long, called the Leash, 
so arranged that it can be readily detached when the hawk 
is required to fly. The jesses always remain on the legs, and a 
hawk should never be touched if it can be avoided, except by 
