Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-12
HUNT WITH HAWKS.
A REVIVAL. OF KHE FAMOUS OLD
SPORT OF FALCONRY.
Excitement without Unnecessary
sIaughter-How The Birds swoop
Down on Their Quarry-Little
Chance for Escape.
written for the pIspatchD


What strange fascination men can find
in the old sport of talconry, that cruel
swoop OF a fierce monarch of the air on
the track OF a bird whose only safety
lies in fight, is a mystery TO those whose
knowledge of the pastims Is limited
to what they have read about 1t In old
books. Sportsmen who have taken to
this method of capturing game birds
declare that this is the essence OF ex-
citing sport They argue that the man
who goes shooting with a modern breech-
loader may kill more birds, but he has
only the satisfaction OF knowing that he
has trained himself 20 be expert In the
killing process, while the falconer has
educated one of the widest and most UNI
likely creatures In existence to obey his
will and kill as he directs. Besides, say
the falconers, what is the shooting of
bird on the wing compared with the ex-
citing spectacle OF a falcon swooplng
with lightning-lke swiftness on a part
ridge that Is speeding for all its wings are
worth to get away.
Whatever it's opponents may say, GER
tain IL is that the sport of falconry, the
noble old sport that has been sung about
by ancient poets and pictured on number
less canvases by famous painters is be-
coming fashionable country pastime,
whose followers are as enthusiastic over
their favorite amusement as ever was
a golf crank or yachting tiend. 1t Is
essentially a cruel sport, but no sport
that has for its ultimate object the kill
| ing of bird or animal can be considered
humane, and the death of the quarry by
| the talons OF the hawk is probably as
| painless an end as being killed by a
| rifle shot.
A party OF falconers will start from
| the country house at which the meet
| takes place with half a dozen or more
hawks. carried on the cadge, wooden
| frame on which they are transported 10
the field. The birds are hooded in the
manner shown Ia the illustration, which
| is a picture of Black Lady, hawk with
| a famous record for killing. The hoods
are OF silver, and the tuft enables the
owner 20 readily single out his bird
from others. When the moment for ac-
| ton comes the falcon is taken from
I the cadge and carried on the gloved hand
| of the falcOner, ready 70 be freed at any
| instant for the night after the game.
| When the covey is reached the falcon is
| relieved OF its swivel, hood and leash,
and released. She will dart up In the
| air and wait there until the quarry is
| sighted, circling round and round the spot
| where she has been released. When il
| is seen that the falcon is ready, a rush
is made by the faIconers and the dogs
that accompany the party. 10 the spot
where the coyey Of partIidges has been
located.
Up rise the frightened birds, and seeing
! their enemy, the falcon, waiting 10 seize
| Oh Il do
front them below, tho birds wing .heir
way forward, bent on escaping. 1t r-ust
be a fast-fying partridge that can out
| strip the falcon in a race. The old and
| crafty birds of the covey know this well,
and their tactics are 10 head for the
| densest bushes and seek safety in con-
ceament. The falcon. with a similarly
| active instinct, singles out a young bird
that has sense enough only to ny blindly
on in hope OF its wings saving IL from the
falcons foot. 1t is usually a short race
| With swoop that the falconer who il
an enthusiast watches and admires as the
angler does the experts cast of a line
| or the yachting man the swift sweep OF
| boat in race. the hawk Is down on
the partridge, picking 1t up with her foot
| and carrying IL off TO a place OF safety
where IL can gorge at ease on the prize
Sometimes, as a reward for clever work
| the FALCON ID QiloTed 10 continue It's meal
but II other work Is required OF II, the
dead bird is added to the bag OF the party
| and the hunt is resumed.
When the next covsy Is reached, another
bird Is allowed TO show his prowess
| Rarely will a bird kill more than one
bird out OF = covey, point that the
falconers use In answering their critics
who assert that the sport Is a cruel one
for say the faIconers: I'VE get a great
deal moro sport than the man who shoots
birds, with less killing than he considers
necessary TO a successful day" But oc
casionaly a bird will kill two partridge:
from the same covey. This was a fea
accomplished by Black Lady recently
when. after killing one bird. she was aftei
another like a hash. The second one sh,
was eating when the falconers came
upon her. The first was caught by tn,
dogs. the blow OF the Black Lady havlns
broken one OF its wings
A good days sport with trained bird.
will result In the baeging OF dozsr
cartridges. not much of result from
hunters point of view. but still bag o.
comfortable proportions.
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