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Show Feathered Fighters for U. S. Falconry, one of tlte oldest of thn world's sports, is to hp. fiiven n try-out as a military ircnpon of the United States. Thorn is little, doubt that peregrine falcons, properly trained, could he used as ideal interceptors for carrier pigeons used hy the. enemy. To handle, vliese fathcred draftees a number of soldiers are being trainerl as falconers, under Lieut. Thos. MacClure. These, photos acre made, during a falconry demonstration at the Bronx Zoo, Now York. f -' jr.. ... ( .a A. A I df y ' ; Lieut. MacClure "gentles" ( gets it accustomed to being handled) "Thunderbolt," the first falcon to join the U. S. army signal corps. Falcons are found in big cities roosting on ledges. i - I - ' - -l - ! 'f '(W . ' i . l A A keeper at the Bronx zoo is about to hood a golden eagle. The leather hood is to keep it from seeing until the falconer wants it to see. Then it is taken off. Each day the falconer must spend an hour or so with the hooded bird on his wrist. Stout leather thongs called "Jesses" are attached to the bird's legs. f . . j I , ' j l - ? ' 1 ? f:r s - s Above: Hood removed, .- K- 4'-Vc'" tfte 200 eagle is shown in J " t ' , 1 flight here. The bird is re- $-ur" " - turning to the keeper s wrist. J"-' 2? "- The Ziiif rope attached to ""Ja'-s, . ' - J tie "Jesses" is to keep the . ' . ii-SjTj bird from going after pi- . ge.ons and sea gulls. Right: , . ' ' A closeup liew of the hooded . ' ; eagle. The plume in front is " , nJ jisf an ornament. ' Above: Hood removed, the zoo eagle is shown in flight here. The bird is returning re-turning to the keeper's wrist. : The light rope attached to the "Jesses" is to keep the bird from going after pigeons pi-geons and sea gulls. Right: A closeup view of the hooded eagle. The plume in front is just an ornament. Tie eagle has made his perch and is about to rest. It would be difficult to train enough eagles, even if there were enough. b. .r ;;dAA i |