448 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
itself by numerous exploits. In the plains of la Brie there are 
now no wolves to hunt; the Eagle of Meaux has to be satisfied 
with humbler quarry ; only a few cats from time to time fall into 
its clutches. I do not know that the householders of the neigh- 
bourhood care much for this kind of Tartarian sport, but at any 
rate M. Gervais’ Eagle is very clever at it, and it is a pity there 
is no nobler quarry to offer it. It is rather a heavy bird to carry 
out hawking, for it measures from 70 to 80 centimetres in height. 
Like all birds of prey, it only kills when it is hungry, and as it 
can fast for several days without seeming to feel it, it is not 
always easy to get it into condition and to keep it in wind. 
“The true Falcons seem to be less used in China than they 
have been heretofore in our country. Thus I have not yet been 
able to obtain any precise information on the use of the Peregrine 
Falcon in China. I have found it difficult to recognise, in any 
of the ancient or modern drawings which have been sent to me 
from time to time, the true Falco peregrinus. On the other hand, 
the Goshawk, Astur palumbarius, and other short-winged species, 
are easily recognisable. These are powerful birds that can take 
Cranes and Hares, and even larger game. But it is the little 
Sparrowhawk, especially, which seems to be generally employed, 
and which is represented in various ways in M. Colin de Plancy’s 
collection of drawings. It is used for flying at Quail and Snipe; 
this latter flight appears to us European faleoners a very difficult 
one, unless, as is possible, the Snipe of that country is slower and 
heavier on the wing than ours. I do not think there exists in the 
annals of European falconry any account of hawks being flown 
regularly at Snipe. In China, on the contrary, it is often done. 
The training of Chinese falcons, however, appears not to be 
carried so far as with us; for, generally speaking, instead of 
allowing their birds complete liberty when flying them, they 
keep them fastened to a reel of twine rolled up close in their 
sleeve. When they cast off their hawks at Snipe or Quail, the 
moment the latter rise, after allowing a tolerably near approach, 
the reel unwinds with wonderful rapidity, and the hawk 
‘binding,’ being himself ‘bound,’ cannot carry the quarry, and 
escape from the owner, who approaches to take it up. 
**So much for the birds composing the first group in the 
collection of M. Colin de Plancy, and this group I have called 
Oiseaux de guerre ou de combat. The second comprises birds for 
