The art and practice of hawking - Modern Prepper

GULLS, HERON, KITE, DUCK, ETC. 145
our own times. The hawk was thrown off and waited on at
a high pitch, while the duck were put up by water-spaniels
working in the water in concert with beaters on the bank.
Much pains were taken to drive the quarry in the right direction.
The first stoop would of course be the most dangerous to
the rising duck, and if he avoided this, there would often be
a fine chase, as the duck, when once fairly on the wing, is very
swift, and severely taxes the powers of the best peregrine. Peregrines
are very keen after this quarry, and indeed in some
countries are commonly known by the local name of "duckhawks."
In India the peregrine and the shaheens are both used
for this flight, which is highly esteemed, and, no doubt, quite
as good as grouse-hawking. It is certain that it was also a
favourite sport in China and Japan, where it may still be had
by any adventurous sportsman who travels so far.
A very lively and amusing flight is that at the magpie,
which was largely practised in Ireland until the middle of the
nineteenth century, and is still occasionally to be seen. It
partakes of the two characters of sport described in Chapters
VII. and VIII. In fact, just as the magpie is a parti-coloured
bird, neither all black nor all white, so the pursuit of him is
neither wholly by flying from the fist nor wholly from the pitch,
but by a combination of the two. The magpie is seldom to be
found in very open country. You must therefore get at him as
you best can. A cast of hawks is flown ; and often it is an
even chance that their wide-awake quarry will get off to some
shelter before either hawk has even had one shot at him.
Then both hawks will wait on, when they have become au fait
at the game, so as best to cut off his retreat to another covert.
The falconer meanwhile has to use his best exertions to dislodge
the fugitive from his place of rest. He should be assisted
by a large field, which must hurry up with all speed to the
spot, and by every imaginable device endeavour to rout out the
quarry. Sticks and stones are discharged. Hunting-whips
are cracked. Pistol-shots are even brought into requisition,
and boys are deputed to climb the trees. The tiercels—for
tiercels are most commonly used for this flight — wait on
knowingly in advantageous places,—one sometimes close to the
covert, ready for a sharp, quick stoop ;
and the other at a
higher pitch, hoping for a long shot. The magpie is not a fast
flier ; but he uses his head as well as his wings, and is ready
whenever a chance occurs to get back to covert. The beaters
have often more to do than the hawks, with shouting, running,
pelting, and contriving by their joint efforts to make the
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