FOR NORTHERN INDIA 175 



ground, where they are secured by the bird- 

 catcher. 



Another method largely resorted to is to 

 tether a myna, or other small bird, to a peg 

 driven into the ground, and to stretch before 

 this a net, about three feet broad and six long, 

 kept upright by means of two sticks inserted 

 in the ground. Sooner or later a bird of prey 

 will catch sight of the tethered bird, stoop 

 to it, and become entangled in the net. 



A third device is to catch a buzzard and 

 tie together some of the flight feathers of 

 the wing, so that it can fly only with difficulty 

 and cannot go far before it falls exhausted to 

 the ground. To the feet of the bird of which 

 the powers of flight have been thus curtailed 

 a bundle of feathers is tied. Among the 

 feathers several horsehair nooses are set. 

 When a bird of prey, of the kind on which the 

 falconer has designs, is seen the buzzard is 

 thrown into the air. It flaps along heavily, 

 and is immediately observed by the falcon, 

 which thinks that the buzzard is carrying 

 some heavy quarry in its talons. Now, the 

 buzzard is a weakling among the raptores and 

 all the other birds of prey despise it. Accord- 

 ingly, the falcon, unmindful of the proverb 



