Ornithology of Northern Africa. 287 



The Lanner and the Sakkr are not the only Falcons trained 

 by the Arab noble. The Falco barbarus, or "Bourni," is 

 equally esteemed for the partridge and sand-grouse, and the 

 Goshawk and lesser Falcons are also trained. 



My hawking companion and kind host the Sheik, Bou Disah, 

 now the Agha of the Weled Mockhta, who is considered not 

 only the wealthiest chieftain, but the most learned falconer of 

 Southern Algeria, gave me the following account of the Falcons 

 used for the chase. 



The falconer recognizes seven sporting hawks : — 



1st, El Sakkr {Falco sacer) . 



2nd. L'Abli [Astur palumbarius, Goshawk ?). 



3rd. Et Terak^l {Falco sacer ^ ?). 



4th. Tair el h^ohr {i. e. the noble bird, the Falcon par ex- 

 cellence). 



5th. El BaVri. 



6th. El Bourni {Falco barbarus). 



7th. Ez Zebarbach (the Hobby, Hypotriorchis subbuteo). 



Of these, "El Sakkr,'' "L'Abli," and "Et Terakel" are 

 trained for the gazelle, the bustard, and large game. 



" Tair el h'ohr " and " El Bourni " are trained for the bus- 

 tard, the partridge, and the sand-grouse, as well as for small 

 birds, but are preferred for the bustard and the hare. "El 

 Bah'ri " is used for partridges, sand-grouse, and small birds. 



" Ez Zebarbach " is used only for larks and other small birds. 



Now it is not easy to assign species to these various Arab 

 names, and it is evident, I think, that the African falconer, 

 like the European, has been in the habit of giving distinct names 

 to the different sexes of some at least of his hawks. 



1st. El Sakk'r. This bears its identification in its name. It 

 is an interesting proof of the extensive commerce in Falcons in 

 ancient times, that our mediaeval falconers had given to this 

 bird a name derived, not from its peculiar sanctity, but the trivial 

 appellation by which it was known in its native plains. 



But what are L'Abli and Et Terakel ? My friend Bou Disah 

 could not point them out at the time, not having them with him 

 on any occasion when I accompanied him, though he assured me 

 he possessed Et Terakel in his mews at his head camp. These 



