HAWKING* 
129 
great a distance; at length, one appeared to be coming 
within reach, and preparations were made to attack him. 
Each falconer wore a brown leather glove on his right hand, 
to prevent the Hawks’ talons from scratching the wrist; 
and there was a small hit of leather attached to the leg of 
the bird, held by the falconer between the thumb and the 
finger. Each of the men being now ready, with a Falcon 
on his fist, and the hag with the lure tied to the waist, and 
mounted on horseback, proceeded slowly in the direction 
from whence the Heron was flying : and as soon as the 
Heron was nearly opposite, though at a very considerable 
height in the air, they slipped the hoods from off the heads 
of the Falcons, holding them to the fist by the bit of leather, 
till they caught sight of the Heron, when the sport com- 
menced in earnest. 
For the moment they were let loose, off they went, 
straight as arrows, towards the Heron, which by this time 
had gone a considerable distance ahead. As they were 
dashing away towards it, an unfortunate Crow happened to 
cross their course, when one of them instantly darted at 
him, but he contrived to escape by striking into a planta- 
tion, where the Falcon followed, but did not take him. 
The other Falcon soon overtook the Heron, which began to 
prepare for the threatened attack, by disgorging its ballast, 
consisting of two or three fishes; while the Hawk, after 
flying round for a short time in circles, at length soared 
above him, and then pouncing downwards, struck him on the 
back, when they both came tumbling down together from a 
great height to the ground. The other Falcon having lost 
some time in chasing the Crow, was now flying with all 
speed to assist her companion, and was coming up just as the 
first Falcon and Heron were falling. At this instant, a Rook 
happened to fly across, when the disappointed Falcon struck 
at him, and they both fell together, within twenty yards of 
the other Falcon and Heron. No sooner had they reached 
the ground than each of the Falcons began to pull its victim 
to pieces ; but as soon as the falconers could come up, the 
lures were thrown out, and the Falcons were allowed to make 
