252 PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE. 



prey with the one talon, he firmly grasped the post with the 

 other, no doubt with the intention of ' bringing up' the run- 

 away. But in this matter the bird somewhat miscalculated 

 his powers; for instead of thereby staying the headlong 

 career of the heifer, her impetus was such, that the lord of 

 the air was himself actually riven in twain." 



These spread-eagle stories will probably be considered by 

 the reader as partaking of much of the marvellous; but 

 before setting them down as regular " Munchausens," he 

 will be pleased to hear what Sir John Malcolm, in his 

 " Sketches of Persia," says on the subject. 



" When at Shiraz, the elchee (ambassador) had received a 

 present of a very fine shah-baz, or royal falcon. Before 

 going out, I had been amused at seeing the head falconer 

 a man of great experience in his department put upon 

 this bird a pair of leathers, which he fitted to its thigh 

 with as much care as if he had been the tailor of a fashion- 

 able horseman. I inquired the reason of so unusual a pro- 

 ceeding. ( You will learn that/ said the consequential master 

 of the hawks, ' when you see our sport ;' and I was con- 

 vinced, at the period he predicted, of the old fellow's 

 knowledge of his business. 



" The first hare seized by the falcon was very strong, and 

 the ground rough. While the bird kept the claws of one 

 foot fastened in the back of its prey, the other was dragged 

 along the ground till it had an opportunity to lay hold of a 

 tuft of grass, by which it was enabled to stop the course of 

 the hare, whose efforts to escape I do think would have torn 

 the hawk asunder, if it had not been provided with the 

 leathern defences which have been mentioned." 



Again " When the Shaban (falcon) is flown at the hare," 



