24 ART AND PRACTICE OF HAWKING 



more rufous brown. Wing and tail feathers darker brown, 

 narrowly tipped with rufous buff. The deck feathers are plain, 

 but the others are barred with lighter brown on the upper 

 surface, and with dull brownish grey bands of two shades 

 underneath. The crown of the head is light greyish buff, with 

 narrow streaks of light brown. The lower plumage is more or 

 less dull white, very variously marked in different individuals, 

 but generally with longitudinal splashes of more or less dark 

 brown. The change to the adult plumage is not very marked. 

 The breast markings do not change to transverse bars ; but 

 some old birds have the brown markings so arranged as to 

 appear like irregular bars. These markings, however, generally 

 become very sparse, and often disappear entirely on the throat 

 and upper breast. The upper plumage alters to a slatey brownish 

 grey, most of the feathers being barred with a darker brown, 

 and still tipped with a rufous line. The cere and feet change 

 from a bluish to a yellowish grey. 



The lanner is common in North Africa, as well as in 

 Central and Southern Asia, and is very frequently trained and 

 flown in all these parts of the world. It was also formerly very 

 largely imported into England, and used chiefly for game- 

 hawking. It enjoys, nevertheless, anything but a good char- 

 acter. The old English writers describe it as " slothful and 

 hard mettled," and of an " ungrateful disposition," while the 

 French characterise it as vilain and rebelle. The Indian and 

 Afghan falconers get it, as well as the saker, into condition by 

 frequent physicking ; and the list of drugs formerly used for it 

 in England is of portentous length. In modern times the 

 dosing of this as well as other hawks is imperfectly under- 

 stood by European falconers ; and the lanner is consequently 

 in most cases a disappointing bird. When thrown off, she 

 flies in a heavy style, and only after considerable delay will 

 begin to mount. Very often, too, she will not mount at all, 

 but go to perch on a tree, or even on the ground. She is apt to 

 rake away and check at pigeons, plovers, and what not, and to 

 be dull and obstinately slow at coming to the lure. To ensure 

 obedience she must be fed a good deal upon washed meat, and 

 that in moderate quantities, her appetite, like that of all the 

 desert-falcons, being apt to grow slack on the least over-feeding. 

 The lanner is very partial to mice, and in the wild state appears 

 to devour lizards and other reptiles. She is not, therefore, at 

 all particular as to diet, and may be regaled with coarser food 

 than the nobler falcons. 



Once properly conditioned, however, and " on her da)^," the 



