Ornithology of Northern Africa. 285 



poised herself above it, an ill-trained or impetuous bird is very 

 apt to strike it in the air. This, according to the view of your 

 Desert connoisseur, is a most unpardonable and unsportsman- 

 like offence, to be punished with death. A skilful hawk will at 

 once rise to a considerable height, then swooping down make 

 feints until the Bustard takes to its legs instead of its wings. 

 The Falcon then poises herself over it while a second is flung 

 off the wrist, and the two together give chase, — the speed of the 

 Houbara being such that a fleet Arab can scarcely keep up with 

 the pursuit. The poor bird runs along, aiding its speed by a 

 perpetual fanning with its wings, its head stretched forward 

 like a corncrake's, and its conspicuous black and white ruff 

 folded close back over its neck, — a pitiable contrast to the proud 

 fellow who was lately strutting with head erect, elevated crest, 

 and expanded ruff, challenging all comers. The pursuers hang 

 over him only a few yards above him, and at each effort he 

 makes to take wing, swoop down with a feint. It is considered 

 the excellency of a Falcon to make these feints at the quarry 

 until it is nearly exhausted, when the fatal swoop is made, and 

 the bird instantly drops, struck dead by the hind claw having 

 pierced its vertebrae. This manner of hunting is probably prac- 

 tised both to afford more prolonged excitement to the horsemen, 

 but chiefly from the singular mode of self-defence adopted by 

 the Houbara, and which I have had various opportunities of 

 observing myself. As the hawk approaches, the Houbara ejects 

 both from the mouth and vent a slimy fluid *. A well-trained 

 bird eludes this shower by repeated feints until the quarry^s 

 supply of moisture is exhausted ; an impatient one rushes in, 

 and gets his feathers and whole plumage so bedaubed, that his 

 flight is materially impeded, and his swoop, when made, is irre- 

 solute. 



With a leash of Falcons, two Haggards, and a Tiercel Sakkr, 

 I have known three Houbaras and a Sand-grouse or two cap- 

 tured in a day, and the chase was terminated merely on account 

 of the fatigue of the horses. I was never actually present at the 

 chase of the gazelle, but it is very commonly practised, and I 



* I have experienced, to my annoyance, a similar mode of defence 

 adopted by the Water-Tortoise. 



