HUNTING THE INDIAN ANTELOPE. 71 



wrant horns. M. Hasselquist gives the following accouftt of this 

 species: "The cervioapra is larger, swifter, and wilder than the 

 common rock goat, and can scarcely be taken without a falcon 

 It is met with near Aleppo. I have seen a variety of this, which 

 is common in the East, and the horns appear different ; perhaps it 

 is a distinct species. This animal loves the smoke of tobacco ; 

 and, when caught alive,-will approach the pipe of the huntsman, 

 though otherwise more timid than any animal. This is perhaps 

 the only creature, besides man, that delights in the smell of a 

 poisonous and stinking plant." 



M. Hasselquist describes the manner of hunting these animals 

 in AraHa, as follows : " I had R.M excellent opportunity of seeing 

 this sport near Nazareth, in Galilee. An Arab, mounted on a 

 swift courser, held the falcon in his hand, as huntsmen commonly 

 do ; when he espied the rock goat on the top of a mountain, he 

 Jet loose the falcon, which flew in a direct line like an arrow, and 

 attacked the animal ; fixing the talons of one of his feet in the 

 cheek of the creature, and the other into his throat, extending his 

 wings obliquely over the animal ; spreading one towards one of 

 iti ears, and the other to the opposite hip. The animal thus 

 attacked, made a leap twice the height of a man, and freed him- 

 self from the falcon ; but being wounded, and losing kls strength 

 and speed, he was again attacked by the falcon; which fixed the 

 talons of both his feet into the throat of the animal, and held it 

 fast, till thvj huntsman coming up, took it alive, and cut its throat; 

 the falcon drinking the blood as a reward for his labor. A 

 young falcon which was learning, was likewise put to the throat 

 of the goat : young falcons being thus taught to fix their talons in 

 the throat of the animal as the most proper part." 



