Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-02

classy.a lla,y Inese OF tne genus Falso. The two
..ss n;z.sJ Oh BIRDS which falconers have recor-
1onS,u,,.M! ~ past days are first the "noble birdsb
areet winged dark-eyed falcons. that rise to
gle rush S5sn, a5d and strike their pray with SIN
VI ri Short ort,winged or low flyers.
ne Irst mentioned were tauobt to r;sa
oTe H. IT,; me hunter, and hover in The air untiI
Ia - ~ U.u, oiten crane, was started while the
latter Ia was thrown from the hands The momenf sf
tfie game was discovered. inens
al t"i'les ZINES very small hawks were emploved.
III '1Aen hSm IN the hand and thrown violently
n nf ta oail at the flushed bird A vast number
sa,v ns 20 d, are employed in falconry, not neces.
90 y 10 dweil upon in this connection
some trainers took the Young birds to +ro;,
,,h;ia LIN t1uld be done in two or three weeks,
net mna,e others preferred wild birds, which were
to train them. "en ~ 'ook longer
~ one cps person generally took charge of a bird.
tne hrst lesson being to render il neY.fectly
tame In confinement :" peAiee'V
ms ms is an easy matter. A few months apo
Mounta;as not small mall hawk in the Sierra Madre
tne @ little creature was so tame that r would
resi- upon my hand and feed without attemnt.
ing ,t.9 to wound me with it's bill or talons ''p'
tbe ddaIaugn5 darI falcons were trained at first in
cap, called the "hood," that completeIv COW.
ered the head, was put on and taken off nm.
uel 80 az circumstances, until the bird became
PSiicCIiy uSeQ to IT.
Of tba hen It was taught to rest upon the wrist
purpose, all this time cord being alta c%ed to
the birds leg. oe'is aetached TO
Ihs line is gradually increased and food
gwen ta Inc bird several feet away; and slowly
f;nail, '1agH. haYf 70 ny greater. distance, until
iiIaily Hn nan mile and return is made.
linen the falcon is tried on pigeons released
nr rom the hand, and gradually treated to birds
OF various kinds, until after a time it becomes
an adept at the chase
when the bird arrives at this stage. the mo-
ment it is unhooded it will rise above ;ts
trainers head, and hover in the air. on the
ioK9out Tt Tor food, or perhaps circle about.
nent as tbs IS oe called waiting on" and the mo-
instant fse safs f Il aP 3ba it ices upon in
AS rule the hungry falcon will attack anv
Et,. eiu, p9t chasing the heron or crane gives the
nes 5ness 1a alspiay Of flying, which, in the olden
tbe snort was hs an important feature Of
heron that has been started up from the river
Drink or marshy pool, rus1es down rIpon its
ylctm nke an arrow, while the frightened
erSnnIp nerSn point? Its sharp beak forward hoping,
mine once saw hawk impaled
lhe latter darted down upon some swallows
Una! IndI were hoVerlng about chimney, and ran
heH'nhsrSd ing O. Leo completely through its body.
shower of feathers, and victim and conoueror
come heavily to the ground; but often the her.
on. drives off its enemy by keeping its lona
pointed bill presented, and then begins 80,
res OF maneuvers that often last some time.
lhe larger bird makes every attempt IN
reach high altitude, soaring around and
around in circles, now plunging down to avoid
the repeated rushes of its willy enemy bnt
ever rising higher; and if, by using its tre.
Inendous wing. power, the heron can keen
above, it is safe; SO that it is race for tbe
upper position, and once does the falcon gain
doomed n ~
The small bird balances itself for a moment
and them like an arrow, precipitates ;tsaIf
upon its victim, that is either killed bv tbe
shock or by the wounds made bv the talonS
and both come whirling toward the earth. the
falcon holding back as much as possible IN
break the fall. :"
As the birds have flown some distance IN
the struggle, the hunters follow them On
horseback over the country, and endeavor IN
be under them when they fall when the falcon
is Immediately hooded and fed with the cama
carried carried for the purpose and allowad
to perch on the fallen heron during the meal
the idea being to make the bird think II Is de-.
vourng its game.
The speed at which the falcons fIv dur;no
the chase is remarkable. That of a pereorine
has been estimated at one hundred and 6ftv
miles an hour, and ger-faleon is said to ex-
coed this.
The comparatively slow goshawlz can catch
passenger pigeon, though, in the East MO
cons are trained to avoid the falcon, and fo
perform manuevers to demoralize this wiiy
bird