New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-31
HAWKING FOR GROUSE.
a Sport Which Shows the Bird of Prey 10
Advantage.

TT Is very often supposed by the Inexperienced
person that the education and retaining Of hawk.
should be started when they are very young"
SAYS Gerald I4ascelles writing IN The Badmlnton
Magazine on 'FaIconry-" This IL a great mis-
take The first and most necessary proceeding "a
to instf into these innocents as much as possible
Of the wild hawks nature. and. secondly. all that
can be taught Of it's power OF fight II the young
hawks are always handled and fed By they
will become entirely dependent on MIN for tbs
means OF existence For the second lesson 20 5s
learnt. that Of gaining powers OF fIght akin to
those Of the wild hawk. a system called the hack
is employed.
TT merely consists IN allowing the young hawks
complete liberty as soon they fly at all 90
long as their food is placed in open spot vel
known to them. they will return 20 It morning and
evening, and so long they do this, and take
FULL meal at each visit. they viii get into seri
Gus mischief. Gradually they acquire strength Of
wing as thev circle into the clouds. STOPPING
another and at anything else that they racing
and chasing Ike many puppies at play
cit is then time to begin the serious business %
training. and instrument called the oow-net 4,
brought into play. This IS the same device TIA;
By which the wild passage hawks are caught and
is nothing than circular net one-hat OF
which IS attached to a bow Of hazel IN such
manner that pull from a long string. led to
point some fifty yards away. will pull the let
tfreIy over a piece OF food securely peggsd down
lust in its centre and consequently over any hawk
that may be feeding upon it The hawks are care
fully watched as they come II 10 feed and the
moment that the suspected individual IS engaged
on his dinner, one pull OF the net renders him
captive Jesses have been his legs al the tina
he was flying AT hack. A hood IS clapped on 70 lis
head. a leash and swivel attached 70 the jesssS
and he IS at orce put into training
the hand gently handling and sJroking the hooded
bird TIL she gets accustomed to human touch and
viii fsed con1enIedIy on the hand when hooded Tie
either be dead bird. piece OF wood 50 COZ.
with pieces Of meat 50 attached that the 6awk can
feed on them As soon as she viii come r9a-l-y Q
proach. she is trained hawk and can be erts.si
70 s3e quarry az NI.cn Sas IS % % nov VI, -
training Is required in order that she may learn
the lure is FIST swung so as to call the hawk froz
Z distance; but she reaches the fa.c0rer K 3
picked up and temporarily concealed from tas
hawk. She will check her flight and rise in sho,
circles round her masters head lowering over hin
the time IS prolonged till she will wal, n the ar
over the faiconer for such space Of time. say
as would be oceuPisd while bTace OF settlers beat
must. to be effective. rise to great height in tns
air, a couple Of gun shots high at least; for with
overtake SO swift bird as gro1se But patisncs
and s sIpergnes Will oVerGoe t1ess G9ts s snq
wei trained dogs is a beautiful example Of mans
a rather fiat moor or slipping hillside is the 5ess
for grouse hawking Let the reader imagine really
with al the speed and dash Ehteh Such doss
hI6iI suddenly round ne comes as ne catches ne
full attitudes which indicate certain find At
once the hood Is removed from the hawks head
and she is cast into the air Having killed many
grouse before this day. she loses time IN gaining
her pitch. and in less than three minutes IL wait
ing on. in small circles at an elevation o. thFes
hundred feet over the pointing dog whose business
she understands Just well a any OF the party.
The falconer has spent these minutes IN r1aSlns
circle round the dog TO head him and fusn
the grouse down wind over the dog when he deems
the supreme movement has arrived. Dog and haws
watch him tntently. ready 70 act at the moment ne
gives the signal He gives IT, and as he runs down
rises
Now watch the hawk. With seeming telioers-
ton she shuts her wings and shoots DOWNWARD
Ike large cricket ball from that great height 81
speed which the eye only Just follow. Ap-
parently falling Just behind the rapidly feeins
grouse, she runs up to them If they motion
less, with the impetus gained by her stoop and -
an instant has bound TO- seized the hindrnost
bird Quietly the faIconer walks up TO his hawk
and finds her bestrtding the dead body OF her cap
tive A few mCuthfuls from the head and neck aFs
sufficient to reward her. and IN half an hour sas
Will be ready to repeat the performance"