OR GAZELLES. 419 



nies of Mr RufFel and of HafTelquift *, we learri 

 that the gazelles of Aleppo are not the com- 



D d 2 mod, 



* Capra Cervicapra. The rock goat. 



This is larger, fwiftcr, and wilder, than the conimon rock 

 goat, and can fcarcely be taken without a falcon. It is met 

 with near Aleppo. I have feen a variety of this, which is 

 common in the Eafl:, and the horns appear different ; per- 

 haps it is a diftincT: fpecies. This animal loves the fmoke of 

 tobacco, and, when caught alive, will approach the pipe of 

 the huntfman, though otherwife more timid than any animal, 

 This is perhaps the only creature, befide man, that delights 

 in the fmell of a poifonous and (linking plant. The Arabians 

 hunt it with a falcon (Falco gehtilis, Linn.) I had an ex- 

 cellent opportunity of feeing this fport in Nazareth, in Ga- 

 lilee. An Arab, mounting a fwift couifer, held the falcon on 

 his hand as huntfmen commonly do : W lien we efpied the 

 rock goat, on the top of a mountain, he let loofe the falcon, 

 which flew in a direct line, like an arrow, and attacked the ani- 

 mal, fixin"- the talons of one of his feet into the cheek, of the 

 creature, and the talons of the other into its throat, extend- 

 ing his wings obliquely over the animal ; fpreading on^ to- 

 wards one of its ears, and the other to the oppofite hip. The 

 animal, thus attacked, made a leap twice the h-ight of a man, 

 and freed himfelf from the falcon; but, being wounded, and 

 iofmg its ftrength and fpeed, it was again attacked by the 

 falcon, which fixed the talons of both its feet into the throat 

 of the animal, and held it faft, till the huntfman coming; 

 up took it alive, and cut its throat ; the falcon, drinking the 

 blood, as a reward for his labour ; and a young falcon which 

 was learning, was likewife put to the throat of the goat; by 

 this means are \oun? falcons taught to fix their talons in 

 the throat of the animal, as being the propereiL part; for, mould 

 the falcon fix them in the creature's hip, or fume other part 

 of the body, the huntfman would not only lofe his game, 

 but his falcon alio : For the animal, roufeJ by tlie wound, 

 which could not prove mortal, would run to the deferts, and 

 the tops of the mountains, whither its enemy keeping its 

 hold, would be obliged to follow ; and, being feparated from 

 its mailer, mail of courfe perifh ; HdJJ'elqiiift, p. 190, 



