ANIMALS OF THE 



safety, which to every quadruped else are quite 

 impracticable ; nor can any animals but of the 

 winged kind overtake them. Accordingly, in all 

 those countries where they are chiefly found, they 

 are pursued by falcons ; and this admirable man- 

 ner of hunting makes one of the principal amuse- 

 ments of the upper ranks of people all over the 

 East. 



The Arabians, Persians, and Turks, breed up 

 for this purpose that kind of hawk called the 

 Falcon Gentle, with which, when properly train- 

 ed, they go forth on horseback among the forests 

 and the mountains, the falcon perching upon the 

 hand of the hunter. Their expedition is conduct- 

 ed with profound silence ; their dogs are taught 

 to hang behind, while the men, on the fleetest 

 coursers, look round for the game. Whenever 

 they spy a gazelle at the proper distance, they 

 point the falcon to its object, and encourage it 

 to pursue. The falcon, with the swiftness of an 

 arrow, flies to the animal j that, knowing its dan- 

 ger, endeavours, but too late, to escape. The 

 falcon soort coming up with its prey, fixes its 

 talons, one into the animal's cheek, the other 

 into its throat, and deeply wounds it. On the 

 other hand, the gazelle attempts to escape, but 

 is generally wounded too severely to run far. 

 The falcon clings with the utmost perseverance, 

 nor ever leaves its prey till it falls ; upon which 

 the hunters from behind approaching, take up 

 both, and reward the falcon with the blood of 

 the spoil. They also teach the young ones, by 

 applying them to the dead animal's throat, and 



