130 THE IMPORTANCE OF BIRD LIFE 



princes of India frequently enjoy it ; falconry to 

 them is still a high art. And it has a considerable 

 vogue in the interior of China. 



The hawks employed by all these Oriental 

 peoples do not differ from those utilized a few 

 centuries earlier in Europe, nor do the methods 

 of training vary in any notable way. Added to 

 the falcons and short-winged hawks, however, is 

 a third bird, the eagle of the emperors, which 

 under the name of berkute holds great favor in 

 Turkestan and Siberia. 



The eagle is trained in the same manner as 

 other hawks and is flown like a goshawk. Owing 

 to its great size and savage temperament, it is 

 kept hooded at all times except when flown 

 at quarry. It is capable of inflicting serious 

 damage upon its keeper if once aroused; there- 

 fore the falconer employs the greatest cau- 

 tion in his handling of it. When the eagle is 

 crouched upon the body of its victim the falconer 

 approaches gingerly and pops a hood over the 

 bird's head before he dares take it upon his fist. 



Foxes and even wolves are common prey of 

 this savage bird; but when a berkute binds to a 

 wolf the battle may prove disastrous for the 

 eagle unless the falconer hastens to the rescue. 

 He rushes up and attempts to despatch the wolf 

 with a blow of the club he carries, before the wolf 

 can manceuver the eagle within reach of its jaws. 

 Fox hunting is not so dangerous, and by this 



