Covert, or otherwise, let several Persons have Trains, and as he offers
to stand, let him that's next cast out his Train, and he killing it
reward him. And indeed you ought never to be without some live Bird or
Fowl in your Bag, as _Pigeon_, _Duck_, _Mallard_, &c. If he be Froward
and Coy; when he Kills, reward him not as usually, but slide some other
Meat under him and let him take his pleasure on it; giving him some
Feathers to make him scour and cast. If he be _Wild_, _look not inward_;
but mind Check, (_i.e._ other Game, as Crows, &c. that fly cross him)
then lure him back, and stooping to it, reward him presently.
The faults of Short-winged _Hawks_ thus are helped. Sometimes the
_Goshawk_ and _Sparrow-Hawks_, will neither kill, nor fly the Game to
Mark, but will turn Tail to it: Then encourage your Dogs to Hunt, cast a
Train _Partridge_ before your _Hawk_, make him seize it, and feed well
upon it.
If a Hawk take a Tree, and will not fly at all, feed him then upon quick
Birds, and make him foot them, and in the plain Champaign Fields unhood
him, and rising up and down awhile let one cast out a Field _Partridge_
before him, let him fly at it, and footing it, feed on it. If they be
too fond of a Man, that after a stroke or two will not fly, be seldom
familiar with him, and reward him not as he comes so improperly:
Otherwise reward him well.
As for _Mewing_ of _Hawks_, the best time for Long-winged _Hawks_ is
about the middle of _April_, and _March_ for the Short-winged _Hawks_.
There are two kinds of _Mewings_. 1. _At the stock or stone_; so called
from its being low upon the Ground, free from Noise, Vermin or ill Air.
2. _At large_; so called from being in a high Room, with open Windows
towards the _North_ or _North-East_. The former is accounted the best
_Mewing_. The Faulconer, before he _Mews_ his _Hawks_, see if they have
_Lice_, to Pepper and Scower them too. The best time to draw the Field
_Hawk_ from the _Mew_, is in _June_, and he will be ready to fly in
_August_; the _Hawks_ for the River in _August_, will be ready in
_September_.
_Cures for Hawks Diseases._
The Faulconer ought diligently to observe the Complexions of his _Hawks
Castings_ and _Mewtings_, to judge of their Maladies, an assured sign of
knowing whether they are sick or distempered in this. Take your _Hawk_,
turning up her Train, if you see her Tuel or Fundament swelleth, or
looketh red; Or, if her Eyes or Ears be of a fiery Complexi
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