FALCONRY IN INDIA 39 



Then there are two other falconers on foot, one carrying 

 a goshawk and the other a sparrow-hawk (Accipiter 

 nisus) . Half a dozen beaters and three mongrel terriers 

 complete the party. The sparrow-hawk is hooded, 

 while the goshawk is not, being of a less excitable 

 nature. The hood is a leather cap, constructed so as 

 to cover up the wearer's eyes but not her beak. The 

 hood terminates in a point like a helmet. In the 

 summit some plumes are stuck, so that the hooded 

 bird has a fantastic appearance. Sparrow-hawks and 

 peregrines are made to wear these hoods when taken 

 out, until the falconer espies quarry, when he unhoods 

 his hawk and lets the ends of the jesses go. The jesses 

 are short straps made of soft leather, which all trained 

 hawks and falcons always wear. The goshawks are 

 both females. In all species of the raptor es — Glisten to 

 this, ye suffragettes ! — the female is larger and bolder 

 than the male, and hence is more highly esteemed by 

 the falconer. The female goshawk is known as a baz, 

 and is worth anything up to Rs. 150, while the male, 

 called the jurra, will never fetch more than Rs. 80. 

 The goshawks whose exploits I am about to recount 

 cost Rs. 80 and Rs. 60 respectively. They have been 

 trained more especially to take peafowl. 



The party sets out in a southerly direction across an 

 uneven plain, much intersected by dried-up water- 

 courses. There is no cultivation on the plain, which 

 is to a large extent covered with long sarpat grass and 

 other xerophilous plants. We move along in an 

 irregular line, the dogs and beaters doing their best 

 to put up game. Suddenly a quail rises. " Let loose 



