284 Rev. H. B. Tristram on the 



sert. It was preying upon a large lizard in the Desert of Souf. 

 The Arabs seemed, however, well-acquainted with it under its 

 name of ' Ogab abiad/ 



7. Falco sacer. (The Saker Falcon.) "El Sakkr," Arab. 



8. Falco lanarius. (The Lanner Falcon.) 



I much regret that the extreme value set by the Arabs upon 

 their Falcons, and their suspicion of my designs, prevented me 

 from bringing home a specimen of the much-disputed Saker 

 Falcon. I purchased a skin in Tunis of the Falco lanarius, and 

 obtained myself the Falco punicus in the Desert in winter, as 

 Mr. Salvin also did when we were together in spring. Still, I 

 had many opportunities of observing the Lanner and Saker in 

 a state of domestication, and occasionally saw a bird haunting 

 the cliffs which could be none other than the true Lanner. As 

 far as I could discover, the Lanner breeds about the Atlas 

 range, chiefly, if not exclusively, on its southern side, while the 

 Saker is a more truly Desert habitant. 



The Arab Sheiks pursue the sport of falconry with all the 

 zeal, skill, and science of the " noble uiysterie " of our ancestors. 

 The villein who presumed to raise his hand against the king^s 

 deer was not more certain of condign punishment from the 

 Norman, than the plebeian Sehaur who should dare to cast a 

 hawk in the Sahara. No Agha or Sheik of high degree ever 

 moves for war, business, or pleasure unattended by his falconers, 

 who are his confidential lieutenants. The care of three Falcons 

 is considered sufficient employment for one falconer with an 

 assistant ; and on the march, one or two of these important 

 personages follow mounted immediately behind the Sheik, with 

 a hooded Falcon on the wrist and one perched on each shoulder. 

 The Houbara Bustard is the favourite quarry ; but eagles, kites, 

 sand-grouse (and in the case of the Sakkr Falcon, the gazelle) 

 afford equal sport to the huntsman. When a Bustard is descried, 

 the whole cavalcade instantly halt, the hawk on the wrist is 

 transferred to the hand of his master, who, attended by his fal- 

 coners alone, instantly sets off, and unhooding his bird, throws 

 him from his wrist towards the Bustard. Much skill is exercised 

 in drawing the attention of the Falcon to the Bustard before it 

 rises. Should it luifortunately take wing before its pursuer has 



