The art and practice of hawking - Modern Prepper

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8 ART AND PRACTICE OF HAWKING
published by Turbervile in 1575, by Latham in 1615, and by
Bert on the short-winged hawks in 1635. Still more interesting
are the books written in French by Charles d'Arcussia, which
date from 1598 to 1627. The nineteenth century has produced
several important works, including the small treatise by Sir
John Sebright, 1826, and the splendid illustrated volume by
Schlegel and Wulverhorst, 1853. The Badminton Library
contains half a volume on Falconry from the very able pen of
Mr. Gerald Lascelles ; and the Eyicyclopcsdia Briiamiica has an
article on the subject by Colonel Delm6 Radcliffe.
To look for any real revival of falconry in Europe would be
altogether quixotic. Lucky indeed may the falconer of the future
consider himself if the art even survives. Already the goshawk,
the ger, and the golden eagle are almost extinct in England
sparrow-hawks have become so rare that constant advertisements
offering to buy one remain without response ; the harmless
hobby and innocuous merlin are ferociously persecuted, and
have been exterminated in most of their favourite haunts. A
lost hawk has become almost a synonym for a murdered hawk.
Owners are beset with enemies on every hand, besides being
plagued and pestered by ignorant and impertinent intruders, if
ever they venture with their hawks into a public place. The
country becomes more and more unsuitable for hawking purposes.
Upon many of the most open spaces bricks and mortar
intrude ; upon other parts the vexatious small plantations designed
as shelters for game. Even when a suitable grouse-moor
or partridge-ground is found in want of a tenant, obstacles may
be raised. A baseless but deep-rooted prejudice deters many
lessors from allowing trained hawks to be flown over their land,
on the absurd plea that it will spoil it for subsequent tenants.
In short, the impediments with which the modern falconer has
to contend are too many and too great for any but a few very
determined sportsmen. These, when they have once mastered
the initial difficulties, usually persist in preferring the sport to
any other. " Once a falconer, always a falconer," is a maxim of
universal truth. And the fraternal spirit which animates most
English falconers—and, for that matter, most falconers throughout
the world— is not the least agreeable feature presented by
this ancient and honourable field sport.