Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-02-02
ENGLISH FALCONERS
THEY STILL KEEP ALIVE, IN A WAY,
THE ANCIENT SPORT. 4.

Take It's Place-ROOIxs, Magpies and
Partridgcs the Quarry.
Those who share the now very CON-
mon belief that the ancient sport Of fall
eOnry has died out in England would
zee reason to alter their opinion II they
happened to be in Wiltshire at the
right time Of year, says the London
Chronicle, and to have the opportunity
of going out with some Of the amateurs
who there fly their hawks annually at
various kinds Of quarry.
If they could gain admission to the
rather select reunions of these latter
day falcOners they would find that sew
eral Of the birds most distinguished In
the chase in the middle ages are still
employed in the selfsame way, wear
ing bells and jesses and having their
heads adorned with those bright col
ored 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
DeltS anu hiOiS "hiNAA A~N'' 49,
vey to most readers but vague and
haZy meaning when encountered IN the
pages Of Shakespeare or Spenser or
Walter Scott.
1t is true, no doubt, that there are
many changes. No more can the lordly
gyrfalcon be thrown off at the heron on
passage. for this splendid brd-bravest
and feetest of all that fly-has long
been exterminated in these islands. and
ia the snow capped mountains where
she still has her home no trappers go
on princes errand to ensnare her for
his service. No longer does Danish
king send a cast Of these noble crea-
lures as a specially welcome present to
his royal brothers.
But the peregrine we still have,
though, alas, in ever decreasing num-
bers. The goshawk, though extinct IN
England. is still sometimes sent over
from the forests Of France or Germany
or Norway to be trained and town
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 shaheen from
India 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 England.
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 crea-
lures in the pursuit Of which nature
has fitted each of them to excel only q
few now survive in sufficient numbers
or are to be found in sufficiently open
places to serve as suitable quarry for
them.
Thus. as far as Wiltshire is concern
ed, the flights for which the peregrlne
is habitually reserved are only three
rocks. magpies and cartridges. 1t is in
the earlier part of the year that the
two first named Quarry-much detest-
ed by farmers as well as game preserv-
ers-are pursued, the rocks by female
peregrines, especially dignifed 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 q matter or lire OF
death for them, acquit themselves with
great ability in the air, flying at a hign
rate of speed, especially down WIND,
and avoiding the hawks swoops WIN
much adroitness. The falconers In at
tendance must gallop fast If they mean
to keep up with the fight until the
quarry either falls q victim to, some
specially we'll aimed blow or makes MS
way successfully, often after flying
some miles, to plantation or shelter
where he is safe.
At the maybe 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 cIude their active pursuit. 1t Is an
animated scene as the horsemen at
tempt with loud cries and other noises
to rout out from some thicket or hiding
place the reluctant fugitive, while the
IN, q n
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 op-
erations and many of the performers
in them are changed. Instead OF being
thrown off from the fist as soon as
rock or maybe is found in suitable
place the hawks, one at time, are put
on the wing before any quarry at all
Is in sight. The falconer has satlshed
himself that a partridge or covey is
squatting or running somewhere not
far in front of him, and the hawK,
knowing by long practice what Is ex'
pected of him, mounts steadily, often
to very great height and then circles
about, waiting until the men below
have flushed the game, when he comes
down with almost incredible speed In
long stoop, which often, indeed, misses
its mark. but, if the hawk Is good
one often succeeds. All peregrines car
be used for partridge hawking, whether
they are Of one sex or the other and
whether they have been taken as ey'
esses from the aerie or have been cap
tured in the adult state in Holland and
already used in the spring for rocks or
magpies.