SPORT WITH A PLOVER. 225 



tall thick trees about it. There we soon flushed 

 a green plover, which appeared in an agony of 

 fear the moment that the little basha, or shikrah, 

 was bowled at him,* and shrieks of "peewit, 

 peewit," filled the air, but the plover would not 

 give in " without a squeak for it." The quarry 

 made for the nearest tree, as once within the 

 shelter of its branches he felt secure, and sure 

 enough would there find safety, if the falconers 

 were not to interfere, but sticks and stones were 

 showered into the branches, and the poor pee- 

 wit was di'iven to seek other shelter ; again and 

 again the hawk stooped at him, but each time 

 missed her victim by its rapid movements. At 

 length the poor plover began to show symptoms 

 of fatigue; his movements became less rapid, 

 the hawk discovered the distress of her victim, 

 and at length closed and brought the plover to 

 the ground. One of these birds gave us capital 

 sport for a full quarter of an hour of incessant 

 movement. When the sun had almost disap- 

 peared we entered some low grass-grounds 

 where curlew abounded, two or three of which 

 were killed, and amongst the number a king- 

 curlew, a very handsome bird with a crimson 

 * Burton. 



VOL. I. 15 



