Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-02-22
REVIVAL OF FALCONRY.
An Ancient Sport That Englishmen Are
Trying to POpulariZe.

cAlSG any SlCdU revival Oh bn0 SpOFJ Oh
falconry there have been various efforts
recently made to popularize it in En-
gland.
There was time when it was ex-
tremely popular, and upon the treasury
lists of Great Britain there are several
sinecurists drawing heavy salaries in
connection with this now obsolete pas
time.
Falconry is the pursuit of birds and
also of small quadrupeds by trained
hawks. Tee heron is the principal bird
the sport affects. These birds are only
occasionally met with in the fens. In
the winter the herons are shy and
solitary, and are found in the fens by
themselves; but in the spring they con-
gregate in some high WOOD. The heron
resembles the rook or crow, and their
nests and habits are similar. They are
curious and weird objects standing
alone in the water, with their heads
bent back to their shoulders, seeking
the fish, reptiles and mice, which, when
discovered, they seize with the quick
ness Of lightning and the unerring aim
of a Creedmoor expert.
Several efforts to revive the sport
have been unsuccessfully made at
various times OF late, with poor sue
cess. In olden times kites, partridges,
pheasants, larks, pigeons, sparrows
and even rabbits have been flown at.
The Maharajah Dhuleep Singh, Of
India, kept his private falconer in En-
gland recently. but was unsuccessful
in attracting general attention, for few
sportsmen of the present rapid age
have the patience to persevere to be-
come expert falconers. Some few peo-
pie who cling to the antiquity of their
residences, retain heronries as proofs.
But ta9y are for the most part entirely
out of the reach of nearly all of her
Maiesty's sporting subjects.
But years ago there were no men
more reyered and ennobled than ex-.
pert falconers.
The gyrfalcon is most highly priced
for the sport; he is very long winged
and the largest species. In the olden
days Of falconry the gyrfalcon of Ice
land was highly priced as the most
rapid of flight and more courageous
than the British or Norway species
The length Of this bird was about
twenty-three inches. with horn and
yellow colored beak. There are various
species OF falcons slow fiers, quick
dashers, and long and short distance
birds, according to the prey designed.
The kesirel, the goshawk. and the
sparrow hawk, also the kite, buzzard,
and harrier are some OF these. The
hood, which is used to break the hawk
to hand and to produce temporary
blindness, is made of stiff leather.
blocked upon a wooden model of iti
intended shape, so as to sit stif1y but
firmly on the hawks head A curious
combination OF leash is fastened around
the hawk and extends to the hand Of
the falconer, who can instantly set the
bird free. The lure is used to entice the
hawk back to the falconer. either after
an unsuccessful flight or when the game
is struck and is to be saved from thsl
talons of the devourer. The lure isl
composed of mass of feathers of bril-
liant hue attached to long corded:
string with tassel at the end.
Hawking gloves were used with hand
somely ornamented gauntlets over the
wrist. each falconer adopting some
poetical fancy of his own. Hawks are
either taken from their nests, trained
as young birds, or trapped at a later
period. By the feather mode they are
more tractable, but less fearless and
less bold and strong. Hawk ia ming is
easy, but the chief difficulty in falcon
ing is teaching them to fly at game.
Springs of horsehair or bird lime are
the means usually sought to trap the
hawk, and active men and boys in
neighboring trees are essential
Hawks are wonderfully intelligent
when trained, and will take medicine
to condition them as well as the most
intelligent horse or dog, and will learn
to know their names and will come at
its call from out of a congregation.
Rewards of meat will placate the most
unruly hawk. who will then tamely
submit to hood, jesses, and bells. 4
well-trained peregine (eyesses) costs
about seven dollars.
Colonel Wilson, of Didlington, In
Norfolk, has the most perfect heronry
probably existing to-day. heronry
is best situated on river with open
country on each side of it. The herons
go out in the morning to rivers and
ponds at considerable distances in
search of food, and return early in the
evening. 1t Is at this time that the
falconers place themselves in the open
country ''down wind" of the heronry.
so that when the herons are intercepted
on their return home they are obliged
to fly against the wind to gain their
place of retreat.-Anaericaa Magazine.
TO determine whether her two pes
canaries p ssessed the sense of color,
Chicago lady placed before them two