HUNTING WITH BIRDS OF PREY 



819 



winter game of the children in the streets of Samareand and other 

 large cities of central Asia consists in setting in flight crows 

 which are held by long strings tied to the hand, and practicing 

 the exercises of falconry with them. 



Female birds are preferred in both Asia and Africa, as being 

 larger and stronger than males, and are more readily trained; 

 but males are also sometimes used. Among the great variety of 

 birds of prey in Turkistan, those which are habitually domesti- 

 cated are first the falcons and hawks. The common goshawk 







Fig. 1. Golden Eagle {Aquila eltrysaelos). 



(Astur palumbarius) and the sparrow hawks (Accipiter nisus and 

 Accipiter virgatus) are most usually employed and most valued. 

 They are used principally for taking pheasants, partridges, and 

 quails. Most of the buzzards are trained. The kites, which were 

 supposed in ancient European falconry not to be susceptible of 

 training, are used with success. The Milvus melanotic, which 

 has been identified by Pallas with the black kite of Europe, but is 

 probably distinct, proves to be quite tractable. 



The golden eagle (A.quila chrysaetos), Aquila daphnea, and 

 Aquila clanga are habitually trained, and are mentioned by trav- 



