The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-12-11

80 - uignr Is more or less OF stern
chase, with none OF those lightningliks
descents from out Of the sky which
are considered the chief merit Of the
flight with the nohler 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, aud
quite big bag Of rabbits has been
made with even one goshawk when In
first rate fettle. But II requires an un.
usually strong and bold one TO tackle
aud hold ON TO so large and vigorous
an animal as full grown down hare
OF the Wiltshire plain.
September sees also In full swing the
campaign with the two kinds Of small
hawks which are now trained for the
feld. OF these the sparrow hawk is
the larger and the more difficult to re-
claim and keep In condition. Both
sexes are usually employed at black.
birds, although no bird Of about the
same size seems 70 come much amiss
10 them. and they can be fiown at sew.
eral sorts Of quarry In the same day,
whereas the long winged hawks, aud
especially eyess peregrines. should BE-
kept exclusivsly-at least In any one
season Of the year-at one flight. The
female sparrow hawk is usually very
much bigger than her brothers, and &C.
one viii be found % strong
and courageous as to be able to take
few partridyes In the early part Of the
game season.
The mode Of Tying 10 very similar to
that Of the gosha VIII, and each Of these
short winged. hawks 10 more proper.
ly trained to come back 10 the fst aft.
er unsuccessful nights instead Of being
brought back to the "lure," like the
high flying falcons. In the pursuit Of
blackbirds, AZ In that OF the magpis,
the beaters have q great deal to do
with the success Of the operate In
finding and dislodging the cunning quar-
ry when he has got to shelter In a
hedge or bush. Blackbirds can also be
taken by merlins of both sexes, and
the flight presents no great differences
from that In which the larger hawk Is
employed.
Many other small birds can be taken |
by merllns, although many are too fast |
Of flight and too tricky to be oyertaken |
by any hawk that flies. The wheatear.
which may sometimes be found on the
Towns In tolerably open spot, Is nota.
Die for his trickiness> and II will take a
'ery good merlin or even a cast OF |
hem to touch him. But the best quar-
y for merllns are those birds which
axe the air and go up In spiral rings
With view to keeping all the time
'boye the pursuing hawk or hawks.
n this case the merlins employed must
'e In the pink Of condition. Often they
ave to ny miles. ringing upward all
he time, before they can even get
bove their quarry, and then they must
'egin q long series of stoops. each
nade with the utmost energy and skill,
efore either Of them aims q stroke
Vhich finishes the well matched con-
est or until the fugitive has saved
imself In some one Of the many ref.
ges which are big and thick enough to
held him from further pursuit.
There are, Of course, other counties '
esides Wiltshire where hawks are
own, and there are many other quar-.
es besides those mentioned. There
re, for instance, the flight at grouse
nd the very fine and difficult lights at
ulls. But the very existence Of fal.
onry in England Is menaced with
Deedy extinction by the mania for de. ,
troying all Of the rarer birds. And
hose who wish to see 1t in actual prac-
ce must make haste or they will be
DO late.