XIV 



of falcons, and the means by which they 

 were caught, tamed and trained. The an- 

 cient Hindus were keen observers of birds 

 and bird-life. It is my impression that 

 Sanskrit works on birds have mostly 

 been overtaken by the same fate that has 

 befallen works on other special subjects 

 of secular importance. The physical fea- 

 tures of many birds as also many of their 

 habits that escape the eye of ordinary 

 observers are delineated by the world- 

 renowned Sanskrit poet Kalidasa in his 

 works with a faithfulness which is really 

 admirable. Shortness of space prevents 

 me from dilating on the point, but de- 

 tailed information on it can be had from 

 a work of mine in Bengali called Pakhir 

 Katha. Suffice it to say that the evi- 

 dence at our disposal does not enable us 

 to have a full idea about the activities of 

 the ancient Hindu in regard to bird- 

 keeping; but there can be no doubt that 

 it was extensively practised, and birds 

 were kept in cages and open gardens not 



