MAMMALIA — GAZELLE. 357 



sheep ; horns (as before observed) hollow, curiously curved, annulated with 

 prominent rings or spirals, and not deciduous. 



They bound with such swiftness, and are generally so very shy, that dogs 

 or men vainly attempt to pursue them. With ease and safety they traverse 

 those precipices which, to every other quadruped, are quite impracticable ; 

 nor can some of them be overtaken by any animals but those of the winged 

 kind. Accordingly, in those countries where the fleetest are chiefly found, 

 they are pursued by falcons ; and this admirable manner of hunting forms 

 one of the principal amusements of the higher ranks of people all over the 

 East. The Arabians, Persians, and Turks, employ for this purpose that 

 kind of hawk called the falcon gentle, with which, when properly trained, 

 they go forth on horseback among the forests and the mountains, the falcon 

 perching upon the hand of the hunter. Their expedition is conducted with 

 profound silence ; their dogs are taught to keep behind, while the men, on 

 the fleetest coursers, look round for the game. Whenever they spy a gazelle 

 at the proper distance, they point it out to the falcon, and encourage the 

 bird to pursue it. With the swiftness of an arrow the falcon flies to the 

 animal, which, conscious of its danger, endeavors, but too late, to escape. 

 The falcon soon coming up with its prey, fixes its talons, one into the 

 animal's cheek and the other in its throat, and deeply wounds it. On the 

 other hand, the gazelle attempts to escape, but is generally wounded toe 

 deeply to run far. The falcon clings with the utmost perseverance, nor ever 

 leaves its prey till it falls ; upon which the hunters from behind approach- 

 ing, take up both, and reward the falcon with the blood of the spoil. They 

 also teach the young birds, by applying them to the dead animal's throat, 

 and accustoming them betimes to fix upon that particular part ; for if it 

 should happen that the falcon fixed upon any other part of the gazelle, either 

 its hack or its haunches, the animal would easily escape among the moun- 

 tains, and the hunter would also lose his falcon. 



They sometimes hunt these animals with the ounce. This carnivorous 

 and fierce creature, having been tamed and domesticated, generally sits on 

 horseback behind the hunter, and remains there with the utmost composure, 

 until the gazelle is shown. It is then that it exerts all its arts and fierce- 

 ness; it does not at once fly at its prey, but approaches slily, turning and 

 winding about until it comes within a proper distance, when all at once it 

 bounds upon the animal, and instantly kills it and sucks its blood. If, on 

 the other hand, it misses its aim, it rests in its place without attempting \o 

 pursue it any farther, seemingly ashamed of its own inability. 



There is still another way of taking the gazelle, which seems not so cer- 

 tain nor so amusing as eitber of the former. A tame gazelle is trained for 

 this purpose, which is taught to join those of its kind wherever it perceives 

 them. When the hunter, therefore, sees a herd of these animals together, 

 he fixes a noose round the horns of the tame gazelle in such a manner, that 

 if the rest but touch it they are entangled ; and thus prepared, he sends his 



