QUALITIES OF A GOOD FALCONER. 
55 
Spenser almost invariably spells the word in this way.* 
To understand the allusion to the falconer’s voice, it 
should be observed that after a hawk had been flown, and 
had either struck or missed the object of her pursuit, the 
“ lure ” (which we shall presently describe) was thrown up 
to entice her back, and at the same time the falconer 
shouted to attract her attention. 
Professor Schneider, in a Latin volume published at 
Leipsic, in 1788,“)“ thus enumerates the qualities of a good 
falconer: “ Sit mediocris staturae; sit perfecti ingenii; 
bonae memoriae ; levis auditu ; acuti visus ; homo magnce 
vocis ; sit agilis et promptus ; sciat natare,” &c. &c. 
Each falconer had his own particular call, but it was 
generally somewhat like— 
“ Hillo, ho, ho, boy ! come, bird, come ! ” 
Hamlet , Act i. Sc. 5. 
The “ lure ” was of various shapes, and consisted^merely 
of a piece of iron or wood, generally in the shape of a 
heart or horseshoe, to which were attached the wings of 
some bird, with a piece of raw meat fixed between them. 
A strong leathern strap, about three feet long, fastened to 
it with a swivel, enabled the falconer to swing it round his 
head, or throw it to a distance. With high-flying hawks, 
* See his “ Faene Queene,” Book III. Canto 4. 
f This scarce volume, of which we are fortunate enough to possess a copy, 
contains the work of the Emperor Frederic II., “ De arte venandi cum avibus; ” 
Albertus Magnus, “ De Falconibus;” as also a digest of Hubner’s work, “Sur le 
vol des oiseaux de proie,” and other ancient and rare works on Falconry. 
