While the hood was on the bird would not move, but when the hood was taken off and it saw the prey it was eager to fly. Here is the story of a hawking party as late as 1825. This party set out in the afternoon, riding towards a place frequented by herons--a large, strong bird with which only the strongest falcons could deal. There were four couples of birds, all of the kind known as Peregrine falcons. Each bird had a small bell on one leg and a leather hood, with pieces of red cloth in it to cover each eye.
After some time a heron was seen near at hand. At once the hoods were taken from the heads of two of the falcons and as soon as they had seen the bird they were let loose. Away they flew after the heron, but a crow chanced to cross their track and one of the birds started to chase this, while the other kept on.
When it came near the heron it flew in circles until it was far above it and at length came pouncing down and struck its prey on the back. Down came the two birds, tumbling from a high point to the ground. By this time the crow had escaped and the second falcon came flying up, just in time to see the other falcon and the heron falling. At this instant a rook flew across and the second bird struck at him, bringing him to the ground not far away from the other game.
Up now dashed the falconers, held out the lure, on which was a live pigeon, and secured the game while the birds were making a meal upon the pigeon. Two other herons were taken by the other falcons and the day's sport closed. Such was a scene of hawking in the 19th century. In olden times the game was often much more exciting than this.
You must by this time think that there is hardly any kind of animal upon the earth that man has not at some time kept as a friend or a captive. Of course, we mean the larger animals, the quadrupeds, reptiles, birds, and fishes, not the vast hordes of insects and the still lower animals. Of these there is only one, the honey-seeking bee, that has been made to work for man, but of the large animals many more than those spoken of have served him in some way or have been captured and caged for his pleasure.
All the large cities have their Zoölogical gardens, where wild beasts of many kinds are kept on show, and in villages and small towns and cities the travelling menagerie carries such wild creatures around where everyone may see them.