Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-20
ENGLISH FALCONRY
ANCIENT PAsTIME THAT STILL
SURVIVES.
Peregrine Falcon-The Quarry Rocks
Magpies and cartridges - How
Hawks Are Put on the Wing.


From the London Chronicle.
Those who share the now very common
belief that the ancient sport OF falconry has
died out in this country would see reason
to alter their opinion II they happened to
be in Wiltshire at the right time Of year.
and to have the opportunity OF going out
with some Of the amateurs who there fly
their hawks annually at various kinds OF
quarry.
II they could gain admission to the rather
select reunions Of these latter day falconers
they would And that several OF the birds
most distinguished in the chase In the
middle ages are still employed in the self
same way, wearing bells and jesses. and
having their heads adorned with those
bright colored hoods and waving plumes
which are now mostly known to us only as
represented in old world pictures. They
would hear In actual use such words as
hagards and eyesses. lures and pelts and
many more which now convey to most
readers but q vague and hazy meaning
when encountered In the pages OF Shake
speare or Spenser or Walter Scott.
It Is true no doubt that there are many
changes. No more can the lordy gerfalcon
be thrown of at the heron on passage.
For this splendid bird-bravest and fieetest
of all that f1y-has long been exterminated
in these islands And in the snowcapped
mountains where she still has her home
no trappers go on princes errand to en-
snare her for his service. No longer does
creatures as a specially welcome present
to his royal brothers.
Imported Birds.
But the peregrine we still have, though.
alas, in ever decreasing numbers. The
goshawk, though extinct in England is
still sometimes sent over from the forests
of France or Germany or Norway to be
trained and flown in the British Isles. And
then we have-though It will not be for
long-the tiny merlin, the much enduring
and much maligned sparrow hawk, and
rarer still, though not entirely unknown
the long winged hobby. Occasionally a
tanner from Africa, or a shaheen from In
dia, Is imported by some enthusiast; and
even the fine shaped barbary and some OF
the desert falcons have been seen within
recent years to wear the hood in England.
All these hawks, and possibly few
others, have been trained and flown by
Englishmen who are now living. But OF
the whole number only four species are
now commonly used in this country. Each
Of them has Its own special part or parts
to play In the business for which they are
intended. But Of the very large number.
of wild creatures, in the pursuit Of which
nature has fitted each of them to excel,
c.iy q few now survive in sufficient num-
bers, or are to be found in sufficiently open
places, to serve as suitable quarry for
them.
Thus as far as Wiltshire Is concerned,
the flights for which the peregrine is hab-
itually reserved are only three-rooks, mag
pies and cartridges. 1t is in the earlier part
Of the year that the two first named quarry
much detested by farmers as well as game
preservers-are pursued, the rocks by fe-
male peregrines, especially dignified by the
name of falcons" and the magpies by
their smaller brothers, called 'tiercels.
The falcon is flown singly at rocks, which.
when it is matter Of life or death for
them, acquit themselves with great ability
In the air, flying at a high rate of speed,
especially down wind, and avoiding the
hawks stoops with much adroitness. The
falconers in attendance must gallop fast IL
they mean to keep up with the flight until
the quarry either falls a victim to some
specially well-aimed blow or makes his
way successfully, often after flying some
miles, to a plantation or shelter where he is
safe.
Hunting the Maggie.
At the magpie the tiercels are flown in
casts-two together; and each assists the
other In trying to counteract and defeat the
crafty maneuvers with which this knowing
quarry endeavors to eIude their active pur-
suit. 1t Is an animated scene, as the horse
men attempt with loud cries and other
noises to rout out from some thfcket or
hiding place the reluctant fugitive, while
the hawks circle about in the air above,
ready to deliver quickly their headlong
stoopS as soon as ever the patch of bright
black and white feathers has been forced
to emerge into the open.
In September the whole plan Of opera
lions. and many of the performers in them,
are changed Instead of being thrown Off
from the fist as soon as a rock or magpie
is found in suitable place, the hawks one
at a time. are put On the wing before any
quarry at all Ia in sight. The falconer has
satisfied himself that partridge or a covey
Is squatting or running somewhere not far
in front Of him. And the hawk, knowing
by long practice what is expected of him,
mounts steadily, often to a very great
height, and then circles about, waiting I'M
til the men below have flushed the game,
when he comes down with almost incredible
speed In a long stoop, which often, indeed,
misses it's mark, but, If the hawk is a good
one, often succeeds. All peregrines can be
used for partridge hawking, whether they
they have been taken as eyesses from the
aerfe or have been captured in the adult
state In Holland and already used in the
spring for rocks or magpies.
Partridges may also be taken with Cos
hawks when these are exceptionally quick
on the wing. But in their case the flight is
more or less of stern chase, with none of
those lghtning-like descents from out of
the sky which are considered the chief
merit of the fight with the nobler falcons
The quarry for which the female goshawk
is most suitable and most often used is
ground game-either rabbits or hares This
kind of hawk. like the sparrow hawk. can
be flown great many times In succession
on the same day, and quite q big bag OF
rabbits has been made with even one eos-
hawk when In first rate fettle. But 1t re-
quires an unusually strong and bold one to
tackle and hold on to so large and vigorous
an animal as a fuli-grown down hare of