170 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



now perfectly dry, and exposed a largo plain, like an open race- 

 course, upon which the young grass was about 2 inches high. In 

 the neighbourhood of this plain there were a few low hills covered 

 with sparse jungle, and for several miles around, the flat surface 

 was more or less overgrown with bush, interspersed with patches 

 of cultivation. 



On the first day's journey we travelled along a dusty road, which 

 had never been metalled, for the reason that no stone existed in 

 the neighbourhood ; the wheels of the carriages sank deeply in the 

 sandy loam, and the saddle was a far more enjoyable seat than a 

 struggling wheeled conveyance. The falconers enlivened the jour- 

 ney by several flights at herons and cranes, which were very 

 numerous in the marshes that bordered occasional lakes or jheels. 

 We had the opportunity of observing the sagacity of a peregrine 

 falcon, which, immediately upon being unmasked, rose straight in the 

 air, instead of following the heron on its direct course. At first I 

 imagined that it did not see the bird, which flew very high, and 

 kept above the lake. Presently the falcon took a totally opposite 

 direction, soaring to an altitude that reduced it to a mere speck. 

 By this time the heron had cleared the large expanse of water, and 

 was at a great height, perpendicular with the dry land beneath. 

 The falcon made a sudden swoop, and with the velocity of a meteor 

 it shot downwards upon an oblique course towards the unlucky 

 heron. This bird had evidently been watching the impending 

 danger, and it attempted to evade the attack by rising rapidly in 

 the air, in order to destroy the advantage which a higher altitude 

 had conferred upon the enemy. It was too slow : the falcon shot 

 like an arrow to the mark, and struck the heron witli such force 

 that for the moment both birds, hanging together, fell for about 

 100 feet, as though hit by a rifle bullet. After the first blow, the 

 large wings of the heron expanded, and checked the rapid fall ; the 

 falcon was fixed upon its back, holding the neck in its sharp beak, 

 while it clung to the body with its claws. In this position the two 

 birds slowly descended towards the ground, twirling round and 

 round in their descent from a height of about 1000 feet. 



In the meantime the falconers had been galloping at full speed 

 around the lake, towards the spot upon which they had expected 

 the birds to fall. The falcon was very savage, and it continued to 

 tear the neck of the heron even when captured by the men. This 

 was a cruel exhibition, as the head falconer, having taken possession 

 of the birds, brought them to be admired, the heron being still 

 alive, while the peregrine was tearing at its bleeding neck. He 

 appeared surprised that I insisted upon its being killed, and he at 



