MAGPIE HAWKING. 
well aware that the hawks dare not strike at him in snch situ- 
ations for fear of injuring themselves. The great object of all 
is, consequently, to make Maggy cross the open country, when 
the hawks have a chance of stooping fairly at him. Supposing, 
therefore, that the magpie has been driven into a hedge by the 
hawks, both horsemen and ‘ footmen ’ divide on each side, and 
make a large circle round the magpie, so as to have him be- 
tween them. Each party then rapidly approaches the other, 
and with whips, sticks, and voices, endeavours to force out the 
magpies, which, being thus surrounded, fly clear of cover, 
giving the hawks, which are e waiting on,’ room for a stoop, 
which, however, the quarry will frequently avoid by ‘ shifting 
its flight,’ i. e. turning rapidly in the air, which throws out the 
hawks, and thus is enabled to regain the cover. 
“No time must then be lost in driving him out, as before, 
for the hawks, it must be recollected, are all the while exhaust- 
ing their strength upon the wing, while Maggy is resting — 
ay, perhaps concocting some sly dodge to do his enemies. 
‘ Whoop !’ proclaims the kill, when all should fall back, that 
the falconers may secure the hawks. The first up at the 
death may claim the tail, which makes a pretty ornament to 
wear in a cap. 
“ One great feature of this sport is that no one need be idle ; 
all may join in it and be of use. In fact no quarry gives more 
sport than the magpie, and the flight has several advantages 
over others : for instance, it is never too rapid, on account of 
the quarry being slow in a straightforward flight ; and it is 
easily seen, being so conspicuously marked. As to the sport 
itself, few scenes can be more exciting than a field of ladies 
and gentlemen on horseback and on foot, some galloping, some 
leaping, some tumbling, some using their whips, and some 
their quarter-staffs, to beat out and frighten the magpie which 
has ‘ put in ’ to cover. 
“ Then when Maggy is pressed out, you have the wild cry 
of the falconer to call the attention of the hawks, which work 
and assist each other with all the sagacity of dogs, — being 
encouraged instead of frightened by the noise and bustle of the 
field, which they evidently look upon as allies. Whenever the 
magpie leaves the cover sufficiently, you have the most splen- 
did stoops at him from each hawk in its turn, and the wary 
doublings and shifts of the quarry by which he so long avoids 
their blows are truly astonishing. 
“ Such a flight as we have been endeavouring here to de- 
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