THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
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rook made fifteen successful attempts to avoid the stoops, by dodging in and out
of the hurdles; at last however "Vic" was rewarded by killing. To prove to
what perfection a falcon may attain, I may mention that the above named hawk
has killed thirty-two rooks out of thirty-eight flights. The feet of her quarry may
be seen to-day in the mew.
Partridge Hawking.—I must say that I have a very great love for this branch of
hawking. The Tiercels, which are the hawks used, are to my eyes very lovely and
compact birds; and the great amount of exercise required to follow the hawks
throughout a long autumn day, commends it to any lover of true sport, who does
not measure the results of the day merely by the largeness of his bag. Some use
pointers or setters to find the quarry, but as I am fortunate enough to fly
my tiercels over districts in which partridges are plentiful, we merely flush the
birds, mark them down as nearly as possible, put the tiercel or cast on the wing,
and walk the turnips, or whatever the cover may be, as when partridge shooting.
I once possessed a good cast of tiercels—"Greenfoot," and "Yellowfoot;" they
never "crabbed," and they flew at a good pitch. It will give an idea of their powers
of flight and footing (for after all the latter faculty is very important), to mention
that one day in January, some two years since, we killed five partridges out of eight
flights. One was knocked down close to a field of some thirty or more spectators. In
the following winter, in one day, we had four flights at snipe, bagging two; one
of these flights was a most brilliant one, the quarry being killed at the second stoop.
After a "put-in" on the same marsh, a partridge escaped into some thick
bushes, and while we were attempting to flush the quarry, out flew a kingfisher,
which, as usual, made for the river, and flew over mid-stream at a great pace. To
my astonishment, "Greenfoot" commenced to fly this gaudy quarry, making
frequent stoops, which the kingfisher avoided by diving into the water ; ultimately
it found refuge in a brick culvert. When the tiercel was taken down he was very
wet, showing how keenly he had flown his uncommon quarry.
Although a "cast" is usually flown, excellent sport may be had with one tiercel,
providing it is a "high flyer," and a "good footer;" it is also essential that he
should "wait on" well, and not "rake away" after other birds, such as starlings,
larks, etc. ; for this reason I would strongly advise brother falconers to eschew
snipe-hawking, unless the bird is kept to this particular quarry, which affords a
beautiful flight.
In flushing a "put-in" partridge, I use two fox terriers ("Twig" and
"Torture"), one being possessed of a truly wonderful nose for partridge. By his
actions we know at once if the quarry is at hand, however close the cover may be,
and this on the Norfolk coast frequently consists of thick fringes of reeds and
sedges, by the sides of the ditches.
A tiercel, such as "Lundy," in partridge-hawking often proves his prowess by
flying at other quarry, such as pheasant. Last autumn a partridge "put-in" into
some thick bushes and fern, and after a good run, the terriers got in and flushed
what proved to be an old hen pheasant. "Lundy," to my surprise, commenced
to fly her, and soon killed, footing his large quarry very cleverly. The pheasant
weighed 1 lb. 11 oz., while the tiercel only scaled 1 lb. 3 oz.
As soon as this tiercel is put up he is off down wind, giving a novice the idea
that he has gone for ever; but, soon turning, he comes up head to wind at a
wonderful pace, and at a great pitch ; and then is the time to watch his every
movement, which can be done through a field-glass. How intently his head turns