262 GREYHOUNDS, FALCON, AND DEER. [CH. xv. 



slipped. For some time, by a succession of enormous bounds, the 

 animal keeps far ahead of his pursuers especially when running 

 up hill, where he is as much favoured by his long hind-legs as a 

 hare is by hers, and all are soon lost to the sight of unmounted 

 hunters. When he has been overtaken and brought to bay, one of 

 the trained dogs keeps him there ; and this he does barking round 

 and round him, threatening every moment to fly at him. The other 

 dog returns to the hunters, and leads them to the spot where his 

 companion is detaining the kangaroo : and so completely does the 

 noisy assailant engage the attention of the unfortunate beast, that 

 the hunters are frequently enabled to approach unperceived, and 

 stun him with a blow over the head. An old kangaroo is there 

 termed by the hunters " an old man ; "* the flesh of a young one 

 is, however, by many considered very delicate eating. A powerful 

 dog will kill a small kangaroo single-handed ; and if properly taught, 

 will then seek for his master, and conduct him to the body. 



470. In Persia and many parts of the East greyhounds are taught 

 to assist the falcon in the capture of deer. When brought within 

 good view of a herd the bird is flown, and at the same moment the 

 dog is slipped. The rapid sweep of the falcon soon carries him far 

 in advance. It is the falcon who makes the selection of the in- 

 tended victim, which appears to be a matter of chance, and a 

 properly-trained greyhound will give chase to none other, however 

 temptingly close the alarmed animals may pass him. The falcon is 

 instructed to aim at the head only of the gazelle, who soon becomes 

 bewildered ; sometimes receiving considerable injury from the quick 

 stroke of its daring adversary. Before long the gazelle is overtaken 

 by the greyhound. It is not always easy to teach a dog to avoid 

 injuring the bird, which is so intent upon its prey as utterly to dis- 

 regard the approach of the hound. Death would probably be the 

 penalty adjudged to him for so heinous an offence ; fora well-trained 

 falcon is of great value. You can readily imagine that neither it 

 ,nor the greyhound could be properly broken unless the instructor 

 possessed much judgment and perseverance. The sport is very 

 exciting ; but the spectator must be well-mounted, and ride boldly 

 who would closely watch the swift, varying evolutions of the assail- 

 ing party, and the sudden evasions of the helpless defendant. The 

 education of this falcon is conducted on the same principle as that 

 of the cheeta. (Note to 284.) The lure is a stuffed gazelle. It is 

 placed at gradually increased distances. The raw meat is fixed 

 between its eyes, and the concluding lessons terminate with the 

 sacrifice of a few tame or maimed deer ; a portion of whose warm 

 flesh is given to the bird as a reward for his aid in recapturing the 

 unfortunate creatures. 



471. An officer, quartered at Antigua, used occasionally to obtain 

 permission to shoot on an island called Barbuda, in the possession 

 of Sir Bethel Codrington. It is a strange spot, a coral rock just 



* The North American trappers apply the same term to an old 

 beaver. 



