REVIVAL OF HAWKING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144198, 15 September 1913, Page 5

REVIVAL OF HAWKING.

PARIS, July 7. For ono afternoon the ancient sport of hawking was to ho seen near Paris, when two of tho last falconers in Franco gave an exhibition of the powers of their birds at the Juvisy aerodrome. Passenger flights in aeroplanes wore also part of the programme, and tho contrast was somewhat incongruous. At ono moment thero was tho greenclad falconer with a pair of hooded hawks sitting on his gloved wrist or whistling to luro his tassel-gentlo back again, and at tho next mechanics in brown overalls were scon twisting an aeroplane propoller. AYliilo ono of tho falconers threw up a pigeon tho other would slip oif tho hood that blinded his hawk and launch the bird into the air. Swishing round in great circles, tho falcon sped after its prey in graceful flights. After overtaking it the hawk would pounce upon it either from tho side or above and fall with it to tho ground. AA’hen tho pigeon managed to escape the falconer whistled his bird off, waving a bunch of black feathers or even a live pigeon at tho end of a string as a lure. A pathetic kill was that of a timid rabbit which was hobbling away over tho plain for some minutes before the falcon leapt upon it from tho air.