THE BIRDS USED IN HAWKING 37 



other contretemps, that she will attack the men of the party, and 

 perhaps have a flight at a native just by way of a relief to her 

 outraged feelings. 



Eagles are carried to and in the field on a crutch, which is 

 formed of an upright pole with a cross-bar at the top, the lower 

 end of the apparatus being fitted into the saddle, and the staff 

 of it attached by a strap to the rider's girdle. The lure, to 

 which they are called when they do not come back to the 

 crutch, consists of the stuffed skin of an animal made to 

 resemble the quarry at which they are meant to fly. 



The following are the eagles best fitted for training : — 



Golden Eagle {Aquila chrysaetus) 



Female — Length, about 35 inches; wing, about 27^; tail, 

 about 14; tarsus, -^.^. Male — Length, about 32 inches; wing, 

 24i; tail, 13 ; tarsus, ^.J. 



The plumage is generally of a ruddy brown or fawn, inclining 

 in parts to dark brown, and in others to dull brownish gold. 

 Adult females become very dark, and males also assume a more 

 dusky hue as they grow older. 



Of the fact that the golden eagle is now and has been for 

 centuries commonly trained and flown in Central Asia there is 

 no manner of doubt. Many excellent authorities maintain that 

 it is the species used by the Kirghis and other tribes subject or 

 tributary to Russia under the name of Kholsan. This was 

 also the opinion of M. Paul Gervais, who became the owner of a 

 veritable Kholsan, imported into France by M. Maichin, who 

 purchased it from the Kirghis for ^40 and a gun. This trained 

 eagle, which was a female, would take foxes well, and after 

 binding to them was accustomed to grip them by the fore part 

 of the mask, thus obviating the chance of a dangerous bite. In 

 Central Asia the Kholsan is flown at bustard, hare, fox, and 

 antelope ; and the females will tackle such heavy quarry as wild 

 goat, wolf, and even wild boar. 



Berkute {AquiUi nohilis) 



About the identity of this species there is even more doubt 

 than about the Kholsan. Mr. Harting inclines to the view 

 that it is no more than a golden eagle in a different phase of its 

 plumage. Others suppose that it is the imperial eagle, and 



