The ornithology of Francis Willughby of Middleton in the county of Warwick Esq, fellow of the Royal Society in three books : wherein all the birds hitherto known, being reduced into a method sutable to their natures, are accurately described : the descriptions illustrated by most elegant figures, nearly resembling the live birds, engraven in LXXVII copper plates : translated into English, and enlarged with many additions throughout the whole work : to which are added, Three considerable discourses, I. of the art of fowling, with a description of several nets in two large copper plates, II. of the ordering of singing birds, III. of falconry / by John Ray ...

CHAP. IX. Of the reclaiming and manning of short-winged Hawks, and first of the Goshawk.

§. I. Of the Goshawk, in general.

HAwks of all Creatures are most fearful of man, and the Goshawk as coy, nice, and hard to be dealt with as any. She may be won by gentle usage; and will as soon perceive and unkindly resent any rough or harsh behaviour.

The Ostringer must bring his Hawk to love and be familiar with the Spaniel.

Some Goshawks are swift of flight, which in pursuing and catching their prey trust to the swiftness of their Wings, others fly slow, and win what they get by policy: None of them but by industry may be trained up to, and made good for some∣what.

The Goshawk is of a hotter temper and stronger constitution than any other Hawk; the first appears, in that her mutings are always liquid; the second, in that she is sel∣dom troubled with those diseases, which be incident to most other Hawks, viz. to be liver-shotten, and to the Filanders. And though the Lanner be accounted the har∣diest Hawk in use among us, and longest-lived; yet the reason is not the firmness of her constitution above the Goshawks, but because the Goshawk in time of her pride and fulness is a froward and unruly bird, and when she is inseamed very prone to extreme bating (wherefore she requires more labour and attendance of her Keeper than any other Hawk) and by these extremes she often shortens her days: Whereas the Lan∣ner is a meek and gentle Creature, and will seldom bate or be unruly in the time of her inseaming; which is the reason she lasts longer.

§. II. How to order a Goshawk taken from the Mew.

BEcause it is likely that she will be fat and full in the highest degree with rest and frank feeding in the Mew, therefore it is necessary that she be fed in the Mew twice every day with clean drest and washt meat for sixteen or twenty days before the intended time of her drawing, that she may be well inseamed of her body, and have scoured forth of her pannel and guts all glut and fatness, and so she will be in no dan∣ger through her bating, strugling, or other forcible motion of her body at the time of her drawing. Then draw her, having a rufter-hood in readiness very sit for her, from which time she must be continually fed on the Fist, and have casting every night. This course with continual carriage on horse-back and on foot must be taken with her in her rufter-hood some eight or ten days longer; and then take it off, when you shall find her to be well reclaimed and inseamed, and free from all danger, and ready to be called; and with diligence and pains she will be next week as ready to fly: And after two or three flights at her first entring may be put to hard flying, and she will receive no harm thereby, &c.

§. III. How to reclaim and order a Goshawk taken from the Cage.

FEw of these are so fat or full-bodied as to take harm by any reasonable bating.

Give your Hawk sweet meat, clean drest, and reasonably washt, and moderate gorges of the same: By this diet you must bring her to a good stomach before you profer her casting, and then she will not be nice or curious in taking it. Let it be no more than she may well and easily swallow, and when she hath done so, presently put on her Hood, then suddenly give her one bit or two of meat to please her withal; then make a little stay, until you perceive assuredly that she hath put it down into her Pannel, which being perceived put on her Hood again, and give her a reasonable supper. By this course taken, the Hawk will soon come to be in love with her casting, hasting to take it without niceness in expectation of her supper.

For my own part (saith my Author) when my Hawk is well inseamed, and in fly∣ing I give her Plumage every night when I feed her up: When she rests I feed her very clean, without any casting at all, and so set her up to rest, and in the morning very early give a woollen casting, fashioned and soak'd all night in fair water, which she will willingly take being used to it: And in an hour or thereabouts her appetite to her breakfast will provoke her to cast it up again. So he disapproves the giving a wool∣len casting at night: But if any will needs give it, then he advises it be with small store of meat, and some Plumage with it. Also he disapproves of stones given with Celandine, and castings of hazel, unless much undersized, because of their swelling. When ever he found his Hawk to distaste unnatural Cotton castings, he suddenly left them and betook himself to Jukes, and sometimes to Hares or Conies feet, the bones and wooll well broken together, which he never found to disagree with her, but always wrought to good purpose.

He condemns the giving of bloudy meat, because the Hawk will not therewith be reclaimed. And therefore, saith he, the unreclaimed and unclean Hawk of this or any other kind ought to be reclaimed, inseamed, and made to fly with good meat, clean drest and washed, and for these Hawks the water dried out again with a fair cloth. And this course to be held all flying time, unless there be just cause for the contrary. As to a sick and crasie Hawk, with due respect unto the eyes, or to a hot and eager mettled Hawk, as also to the soundest and hardest Hawk that is, when she shall have continual hard flying, and kills oft, you may with discretion in the quanti∣ty give bloudy rewards, and three or four times in the week suppers of the same, as Pheasants and Partridges heads and necks: Always being mindful in time of rest to feed with meat clean drest, hard washed and dried again, to hold the stomach right and sharp withal, else no subjection to be looked for abroad when she is at liberty.

All the flying time, but especially when you fly to the covert, (it being then usual∣ly cold weather) suffer not your Goshawk to be too long fasting, for it breedeth much wind in her, and is a special means, with cold adjoyned, to take down her flesh, which at that time will not very easily be put on again. Therefore for every Hawk∣ing day provide a reasonable meal of clean-drest meat, the which you must keep in a fair cloth: Then in the morning, suddenly after she hath cast, give one bit when her Hood is on. Also if you chance to spend an hour more before you find your flight, give her another bit, and so after this manner, proportioning her meat to the time of her being abroad, that she never be over-empty, and yet have a perfect appetite and good courage to fly.

When ever you feed with cold meat you need not wash it: But I would advise you to use it as seldom as you may, for a continuance of it breeds poverty and many diseases.

Whenever you have set down your Hawk off your Fist hooded or unhooded, come not to take her up again without using your voice in whistling or chirping to her, also without some bit of meat, or a stump to please her withal; for so you shall work in her an everlasting love and desire of your coming and company.

Also when you set her on your Pearch hooded, let her not know where it standeth, if she do, she will have a longing to be there, and will not rest quietly on the Fist after she is once within doors: Whereas till she be throughly reclaimed and flying, and till she hath been well flown, your Fist for the most part must be her Pearch, and she must know no other. For these be Hawks that in their first making with a little rest will quickly forget what they were formerly taught, and return to their wildness again.

When she is untowardly or frowardly disposed, endure her unquietness with pa∣tience and gentleness, and evermore have some stump in a readiness to appease her anger.

In the time of her inseaming and reclaiming give her not her dinner at any time all at once, for thereby you shall prolong the time of her making: For her stomach once full she will mind you no more, therefore divide it in the forepart of the day, and let her jump often to the Fist for it.

When she is first to be entred put her upon the highest pin of hunger, and then she will shew all the mettle that is in her, and when she hath once taken her prey rather die than forsake it: Whereas if her stomach be imperfect, the least occasion that may be, as the approach of her Keeper, or any other man, the appearance of either Horse or Dog, &c. will be sufficient to cause her to forsake it and go her way.

§. IV. How to make a Goshawk like the Hood, that hath with ill usage been beaten out of love with it.

CArry a Hood of some notable colour on your finger, that may well be seen and viewed by her as it hangeth there, and so as she may feed close by it for a week together, but beware you do not as yet shew it her with your other hand. But then take it gently in your other hand, and move and stir it about her meat, that she may touch it as she eats. This do another week, still letting the Hood rest on your little in her sight between feeding times. Use this course till without fear she will but thus endure it. Then you must hold your meat in the hand she sits on, and with the other hand hold the Hood by the Tassel upon the meat, moving and stirring it as though you would keep her from feeding; but it must be done softly and gently: When you shall perceive that she will strive to feed beside it, you shall hold it by the Tassel just over the meat, so that she must needs eat clean through it. Do thus so long as till you see that she will feed and search boldly through the hood for her meat, and eat it without any snatching or fear. Then as she is feeding, and doth thrust through the Hood for her meat, do you bear the Hood a little against her, and she will hood and unhood herself as often as you would have her. When she hath with your assistance put on her Hood, let her eat freely until she hath done, and take it off no more till feeding time again. In this manner, within a month and less she will be brought to hood her self with the least stump you carry about you, as often as you shall have occasion.

Practise not this till she be come to a perfect stomach, for if you do, you mar your Hawk for ever.

§. V. To reclaim a Goshawk from the Cage.

GIve her a fortnights carriage or more in her rufter-hood, always stroaking her with your hand or a feather. Be careful to feed clean with washed meat, for so she will be the sooner brought to a good stomach, and be gentle and well pleased to be handled. This obtained (which you shall perceive by her listening to your voice, or eager feeding) some evening wash and pepper her well. Then take off her rufter-hood, having another ready to put on: As she grows to be a little dry put on her Hood, and give her a bit of good meat upon it to please and refresh her. Hold this course to hood gently, and unhood now and then, not forgetting her reward ever after it is on, untill she be throughly dried, and afterwards the most part of the night: Then you may set her down bare-faced to have two or three hours rest; and be sure it be in a special warm place, and on a dry and warm Pearch on high, for these kind of Hawks are very subject to take cold, and apt to have the cramp on such occasions.

When she and your self have taken a little rest, go softly to her with shew of meat in your hand, withal chirping or whistling to her, and take her gently on your Fist, and dividing her meat into several parts bestow it on her for the most part when her Hood is put on: This will make her love and look for the Hood expecting to be fed; if she be nice in suffering your hand or the Hood to come near her head, you must seldom do it in the day time, but at her feeding, and late at night, when she will be more willing to take it.

Next teach her to jump and come to the Fist. For though other Hawks are used to come to the Lure thrown some distance from the man; yet she being a Hawk of the Fist, must be taught and used to come boldly to the hand, and without fear to seize and sit upon it during your pleasure, which she will never be brought to do with all the Art in the world, if her stomach be any way imperfect.

This obtained, let her be called a little further off, viz. twenty or forty yards at most: By dividing one meal (as I said) let her come oftentimes in a day if it be pos∣sible: Which will quickly make her perfect, that she will never check at the Fist, but will come and draw at any time of the day: Whereas using her to one hour for her meal, causes her not to come or draw till that time; which is an ill quality.

[He wishes not to be too hasty in flying Goshawks before they be throughly re∣claimed and taught, but to take sufficient time to teach them. And he affirmeth, that if a Hawk be too much impoverished and her flesh taken off, she will lose her spirit and mettle, how good soever she was, and will neither fly well, nor ever last healthful.]

Now it will be good time to call her loose. In doing which shun all places near Houses and Towns, to avoid the inconveniences of her being tempted aside by Poul∣try, Dove-houses, and such like places, which all these Hawks are subject to; and having once caught such an ill property they will seldom or never be reclaimed from it, how far soever from any Town they shall be flown: Walk therefore with her to the young Woods betimes in the afternoon, having before prepared her stomach, and there put her up into a tree, walking along from her, using your voice softly as though you had Spaniels with you, but chiefly to her in chirping and whistling: By which means no doubt she will draw and follow after you with little noise, Then suffer her not too long, but call her to your fist again, and reward her with some bit of meat, or Leg of a Pigeon, &c. to please her. Then put her up again, and by your softest voice or whistle draw her after you again. To use a loud voice would be a means to make her sit and loiter behind you so far as she can hear you, which is an ill quality: And besides, to make your Spaniels range far off, and spring out of the way far from you, which must needs be much displeasing both to Man and Hawk.

To make your Hawk familiar with your Dogs, first feed her amongst them all very oft upon your Fist: Then throw oftentimes from you among the thickest of them the dead Pelt of a Pullet or Hen in a short Cruce, that she may fly from your Fist, and eagerly chop among them, and seise upon the same, suffering her to plume a while: then take her to your Fist with a stump. This course you must use every day often, till you find that she will venture boldly among them all. She will soon perceive and understand by the Dogs giving way with fear unto her, that she hath even got the upper hand of them, and so will never fear them in the field or covert, or be beaten off her Game by them, as otherwise she would.

§. VI. To enter a Goshawk to fly to the field.

PRovide three or four hand-Partridges, with a companion, and one couple of staunch Spaniels; then go into the field, having prepared your Hawk with ap∣petite and courage to fly. Then one of you shall go near hand from the other unto some bushes or other covert, whereas he shall spend his voice to the Dogs after the accustomed manner, and using some blows with his Pole, he shall secretly let the Par∣tridge spring as from forth the same, with such judgment in the delivery as that the Hawk may see it, crying with a loud voice, Howe, Howe, Howe, that she may learn to know the word of warning, when she should at any other time look about her, and be watchful at an instant to take her advantage. This done, and your Hawk flying after it with spirit, and taking it, be sure with all expedition to get in to her, that no Dog or other thing may fright her, or deprive her of it: But suffer her to plume and take her pleasure on it, and further to take bloud thereon, still having the Spaniels in sight close by her. Then you must teach her to take the head in her foot, and eat it on the ground: And when she hath so done, and looketh about her, having your Spaniels by you, through the Partridges pelt (as before in her first teaching) once among the Dogs, and let her take it being in her Leash, that she may not carry it from you: And whilst she sits there and plumes make her supper ready; take her gently to your Fist, and there content her. By thus ordering and using of her, you will without doubt very suddenly have an excellent Hawk: And by all means fly her to the field all the first year, and let her not see the Pheasant at all, for that will draw her love from the Partridge, and make her give them over; being a shorter flight.

When you have thus entred and blouded her, and also killed three or four Par∣tridges more from the mark at the retrive, and perceive that she knows a Partridge by sight, and the accustomed terms, and will go readily from the Fist thereto; be sure, that all the fore-part of the year you let her go no more one flight in ten, near to the rising of her Game, for that will make her slothful; the Partridge being then weak,

and she taking them easily at the sowce in a short space, she will afterward remember it, and look for the same order, and without it will not fly towards the latter end of the year, but if the Partridge be sprung far from her, will make as if she saw it not, and fly to the next tree she meets with.

Some Hawks have an ill property, that when they have flown a Partridge hard to any covert, and take it not at the first flight, there will they sit still on the ground, and not get up to any stand for their better advantage. To amend which fault, when your Hawk hath flown a Partridge, make after her with all the speed you can, taking your Dogs with you by your command, and when you have found her, be sure to take her up, but not on your Fist by any means, if there be either hedge or tree near hand, but take her by the body or shoulders suddenly with both your hands, and throw her upon either hedg, bush, or tree, and then beat for the Partridge, when as it is impossible but she must see it; if it doth spring then, and she fly after and kill it, well. This course being well followed will certainly reclaim her from that fault, and teach her to rise her self; for she will quickly understand that else she shall be caught and tost up, and also that thereby she shall enjoy some pleasure and content. This is a common and lasting fault of the Eyas Hawk or brancher, seldom of the Haggard, and therefore you need not fear frighting or angring her by so doing.

It is in my opinion the most commendable and safe way after one of these Hawks is first entred, and only knows a Partridge, then immediately to teach her and use her to fly from forth the Hood. Often bating at Partridges sprung to other Hawks discom∣forts and discourages her: Besides, she will, if carried bare-fac'd, be very stirring and unquiet on the Fist, not a Dog can stir, or bird rise, but she will offer to be gone. Let her also sit and weather in the Hood, and never take it off but when she shall either fly, feed, bathe, or is to take her rest at night.

§. VII. How to enter your Goshawk to the Covert.

NO man is fit to order and manage a Goshawk to the covert but he that hath a strong and able body, and a good spirit and courage to follow her, for in this sport, and with this Hawk he must altogether trust to his feet.

Here because the man cannot follow by view to succour the Hawk, you ought to be chary of what place you enter her in, especially that she may be there well guarded and kept from taking any mislike or offence at the Dogs, the which if she should do at the beginning she will never indure them again: For it is the sudden rushing of the Spaniels upon her, (their sight by means of the covert being obscured) that breeds this offence. The best time to enter her is early before the leaf do stir; for then the Pheasant flies not far. Also afterwards the nature of them is to leave the young shoots and small groves, and draw to the high and thickest woods.

Having made good choice of your place, and let your Hawk go unto her flight, you must be sure to command your Dogs to you till you have found her; then if she have killed, you have your desire; if not, and that you chance to find her on the ground, (as it may well be you may, for many of them at their first entring will be very hot and eager of that sport, and oftentimes seeking for it on the ground) if there be any tree near hand, that she may well see from it, put her up into the same, otherwise keep her on your Fist and beat for it again. Then if she do fly and kill it, you must be sure to make stay of the Dogs till you have found her: Which done you shall get gently in to her, and if you dislike the place for the uneasiness or thickness, draw her gently to another more open, where she may with more ease and quiet en∣joy her prey; and there suffer her to plume and take her pleasure on it a while. Then call your Dogs to you, and walk and stir gently about her, with some moderate rusling and bustling in the bushes, the better to acquaint her with the same noise. Then when you see it convenient stoop to it on your knees, and rending the Chaps give her bloud in the throat, where it will issue abundantly, to her great content. Then covering the body with your hat, pluck of the head, and give it her in her foot, to eat on the ground: And having your Spaniels close by you, when she hath done, and beginneth to look about her, throw the Pheasant as it were in their very mouths, that she may, together with some words of rebuke from your self, make them give way with fear unto her, yet drawing them into her sight again, so long to remain as she is on the ground, and till you make ready her supper. And when you see she

hath taken her sufficient pleasure, exchange that artificially with her, and let her eat it on the ground where the quarry lay, only reserving some little thing to take her to your Fist withal: And then put on her Hood, not forgetting to bestow some re∣ward on her afterward, which she will be well pleased withal.

To make your Goshawk with boldness take a Pheasant from the Pearch, before you offer to fly her thereto, provide a young Capon or brown Pullet, and take it with you to the Wood, and when you call her to her supper, as she is drawing and at∣tending after you, having a Pole fit for the purpose provided, call your Spaniels about you, to make them bay, and suddenly breaking the neck of the Poultry, lift it up on a bough, so high as the Hawk may well have sight of it, there stirring it, and withal crying, Abay, abay to her: At which noise, and seeing it flutter, no doubt she will come in, and pull it down: Which if she shall do, be sure that the Dogs may with some rebuke from your self, make way for her descending, and then suffer her to plume and take her pleasure thereon, &c. as was before directed: And in using this course but a while, she will become so bold and venturous, as that the Pheasant shall no sooner go to Pearch, but she will have him by the ears, and pull him down.

By threatning words and blows, with reason, you may bring your Spaniels into such subjection, as to trust them alone with your Hawk in your absence: taking care there be no strange Dogs among them: For one strange unruly Dog is sufficient to mar all the rest, and the Hawk too.

Be careful to enter your Goshawk first to the Cock-Pheasant, for the veriest dastard that is will kill the Hen; which if you enter her first to, it may be afterward with all your Art and Skill you shall never force her to fly at the Cock. If you find that at first she is afraid to buckle with him, then with two or three days rest prepare her sto∣mach soundly, and put her to him again.

§. VIII. Of the Haggard-Goshawk.

THis being the wildest Hawk of all, and so requiring more labour, care, and at∣tendance in her reclaiming and perfect making than any other, he advises not to deal hastily with her by peppering, watching, and the like: For many Hawks have so been spoil'd and lost; their bodies being unfit for such sudden changes.

It is the nature of these Hawks when wild to feed on their prey in covert places, where they may not be descried by such other birds as love them not: Wherefore also being reclaimed, whensoever they take it in any Plain or Champain place, they will be apt to carry it to the next harbour or covert: To reclaim her from this ill quality you must take this course. Though you do call and draw her along after you by your chirping and whistle through the thick and covert places, yet do not there take her to your Fist to be fully satisfied, but let her still wait on you, till you come to some plain place, and there entertain her to the Fist, and let her feed a little there∣on, then put to her Leash, and let her eat the rest on the ground close by you, and having reserved some stump, take her to the Fist. Remember that you sometimes stoop gently on your knee, and quietly and softly convey some bits unseen afar off to her, that she strike not at your hand with her Talons, &c. Thus doing daily with gentle usage so long as you call her, you will embolden her, and make her so familiar as never to offer to carry any thing from you.

When she kills, be sure to get in gently to her, having before provided her a meal ready drest, and as she sits on the Partridge, bestow the same on her in bits with clean∣ly conveyance, which will prolong her time in pluming, and stay the sharpness of her appetite, and desire to feed, which she must not do, for it would cause her to love the Bird better than your self, and to be loth afterwards at any time to be bereaved of it, and thereby take occasion to carry it from you, hoping to enjoy it to her self more quietly and secretly: Whereas this course will so please her, and draw her love so certainly to you, as she will never after offer to carry one feather from you. All this while give her no bloud at all, but with some reversion take her to your Fist again. By this means she will never break the Prey so long as there is one feather left on it, * 1.1 but still attend for your coming, and to have a reward only at your hand. When you have well nuzled up and inured her herein, afterward when you find her with a Partridge in her foot; then after a good time spent in pluming, take off the head and

neck, and give it unto her with the most part of her supper together, and so take her to your Fist.

He prescribes how to teach a Goshawk to fly to the Wild-duck, which is by pro∣viding three or four hand-fowl, and letting her fly and foot them out of your hand one after another, day after day, and letting her plume and be well rewarded on them: And afterward getting another like bird, and letting a companion carry it in∣to a close place or plump of bushes, and there throw it up in sight of your Hawk be∣fore prepared with a good stomach, &c. In like manner he teaches, how to enter a Hawk to the Rook, Heron, Wild Goose, Mew, &c. with a train-Rook or two, &c. which who desires to be particularly informed in, may consult the Author.

§. IX. Certain Observations for an Ostreger in keeping a Goshawk.

A Goshawk that was good in her soarage, many times proves worse after mewing: Because in her soarage she was not cherished to make her take delight in her flight. For the chief skill of an Ostreger consists in coying and cherishing his Hawk, so as she may take pride in her flight. Wherefore it were good at her first entring to have always a train-Partridge in his Bag, to serve her withal if need be, and so win her love.

Ply your Hawk with Tiring and Plumage morning and evening; for that will open her head; and cast out the moist humours, wherewith Goshawks are naturally trou∣bled. Let her Tiring be a Rump of Beef, or the Pinion of a Wing, or a Chickens Leg, given by the fire, or in the warm Sun, which will not only open her head but keep her in exercise.

Give her every night casting either of feathers or Cotton, and in the morning mark whether it be wrought round or not, whether it be sweet or not, whether it be moist or dry, and of what colour the water is that drops out of it: For thereby you may judge in what case your Hawk is. You must also have regard to the mewts, whether they be clean or not.

In Winter and cold weather set your Hawk warm, in some place where fire is made, and roll your Pearch with Cotton, or some such like thing. Set your Pearch far from the wall, that your Hawk hurt not her feathers when she bateth. If it be not cold, set her every morning in some place where the Sun hath power for an hour or two.

Let no Hens or Poultry come near the place where your Hawk shall pearch.

In the Spring offer your Hawk to the water every week, or else she will soar away when she fleeth, and make you seek her. If any time she bathes of her own accord after her flight, if it be Winter, go presently to the next house, and weather her by a fire with her back to it, and not her gorge, for that would make her sick: Like∣wise dry her if you have carried her in the rain.

Keep her lusty and high, and yet her stomach so sharp, that she may fly eagerly. The plucking down a Hawk mars her, and makes her cowardly; and liable to sickness and infirmity.

Keep your Hawk clean, and her feathers whole, and if a feather be broken or bruised imp it presently.

The first year it is best to fly your Goshawk to the field, and not to the covert, for so they will learn to hold out and not turn tail in the midst of their flight: And when they are mewed Hawks you may make them do what you will; it is better to let them be a littleramage than over-manned.

Her feeding is best on hot meats: And if you would breed her to kill great fowl, make her trains thereof: And if you would have her continue those flights never fly at less, for that will take her off from them and spoil her.

If you would make her to fly with a Dog to assist her, feed her with great fowl, and your Dogs with flesh tied under their Wings. If you train your Hawk with them, reward her upon the train, and your Dog with her: This will make them acquainted together. Thus continue doing till your Dog throughly knows his duty: And be sure to keep your Dog tied up, for if you let him go loose, it will spoil the best Dog that is: And never give him a reward but when he makes in at such Fowls to rescue the Hawk.

Notes

• * 1.1

  I speak this by experience and on my credit.