286 Rev. H. B. Tristram on the 



have seen a gazelle brought into camp that had been so taken. 

 This sport requires, however, more birds, and is very dangerous 

 to the Falcons, who frequently impale themselves on the horns 

 of their prey. It is not uncommon for both pursuer and victim 

 to fall dead at one mutual stroke. 



In the pursuit of the Sand-grouse {Pterocles setarius, Pt. 

 arenarius, and Pt. guttatus), no such dallying is allowed as with 

 the Houbara. The covey rise, the hawk is thrown off with a 

 jerk, another and another are thrown in rapid succession, and 

 each singles out his own victim and strikes him in mid-air. 

 But the same Falcon is seldom trained for both sports. The 

 flight of the Ganga and Chukhah (as Pt. arenarius and Pt. seta- 

 rius are named) resembles that of the Golden Plover, and their 

 defence is the very reverse of the method of the Houbara. They 

 attempt, in wheeling circles, to rise above the Falcon, and scat- 

 tering at a great height often distract his pursuit, and unless 

 the hawk has been unhooded and thrown the very moment they 

 were flushed, they arc frequently successful. The education for 

 this chase is by means of a trained Raven, who wheels in circles 

 over the young bird, tempting him higher and higher. 



The apparatus of African falconers seems to be the same as 

 in the olden time among ourselves — the same hoods and gloves, 

 the same care in feeding, and the same quaint remedies and 

 nostrums. I never was able to discover the breeding-places of 

 the Sakkr, though I have seen the young birds in captivity 

 scarcely fledged. The price of a well-trained Sakkr or Lanner 

 is from 200 to 300 Spanish dollars (£40 to £60) ; and I re- 

 peatedly, but in vain, offered 200 dollars for one. The Sheik 

 considers a falcon of the same value as a thoroughbred horse, 

 and will exchange one for the other. No wonder then that I 

 found it impossible to obtain a specimen for my collection. In- 

 deed, it would have been a crime of the blackest dye to have 

 shot one had I had the opportunity. The Arab holds with old 

 Master Latham — 



" A Faulcon is a Prince's pleasant sport. 



'Tis sport and pleasure delightful to the eye, 



Haggard hawke with mounting Lark to flie. 



Amidst your pleasures then take this delight, 



Maintain the Faulconer and his Faulcon's flight." 



