XII 

 THE SHIKRA 



FALCONERS divide hawks into the long- 

 winged and the short-winged varieties. The 

 former stand in much the same relation to 

 the latter as the cross-country runner does to 

 the sprinter. The long-winged hawks have dark eyes, 

 while in the short-winged ones the eyes are yellow or 

 orange ; hence the two classes are sometimes dis- 

 tinguished as dark-eyed and light-eyed hawks. The 

 various falcons, the peregrine, the laggar, the saker, 

 etc., come in the long- winged category. When they 

 catch sight of their quarry, they give chase and follow 

 it, if necessary for a long distance, till they either lose 

 it or are able to get above it in order to strike. The 

 short-winged hawk is content with making one pounce 

 or dash at its quarry ; if it secures it, well and good, if 

 it fails, it does not give chase. The sparrow-hawk 

 and the shikra are familiar examples of the short- 

 winged hawks. 



The long- winged falcons are naturally held in greatest 

 favour by the hawker ; but short-winged birds of 

 prey are also trained. Long- winged hawks hunt in the 

 open. Being long-distance fliers, they rely chiefly upon 



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