MAMMALIA—GAZELLE. 307 
sheep; horns {as before observed) hollow, curiously curved, annulated with 
prominent rings or spirals, and not deciduous. 
They bound with such swiftness, and are generally so very shy, that dogs 
or men vainly attempt to pursue them. With ease and safety they traverse 
those precipices which, to every other quadruped, are quite impracticable; 
nor can some of them be overtaken by any animals but those of the winged 
kind. Accordingly, in those countries where the fleetest are chiefly found, 
they are pursued by falcons ; and this admirable manner of hunting forms 
one of the principal amusements of the higher ranks of people all over the 
East. The Arabians, Persians, and Turks, employ for this purpose that 
kind of hawk called the falcon gentle, with which, when properly trained, 
they go forth on horseback among the forests and the mountains, the falcon 
perching upon the hand of the hunter. Their expedition is conducted with 
profound silence ; their dogs are taught to keep behind, while the men, on 
the fleetest coursers, look round for the game. Whenever they spy a gazelle 
at the proper distance, they point it out to the falcon, and encourage the 
bird to pursue it. With the swiftness of an arrow the falcon flies to the 
animal, which, conscious of its danger, endeavors, but too late, to escape. 
The falcon soon coming up with its prey, fixes its talons, one into the 
animal’s cheek and the other in its throat, and deeply wounds it. On the 
other hand, the gazelle attempts to escape, but is generally wounded toc 
deeply to run far. The falcon clings with the utmost perseverance, nor ever 
leaves its prey till it falls; upon which the hunters from behind approach- 
jing wake up both, and reward the falcon with the blood of the spoil. They 
alsu teach the young birds, by applying them to the dead animal’s throat, 
and accustoming them betimes to fix upon that particular part; for if it 
should happen that the falcon fixed upon any other part of the gazelle, either 
its back or its haunches, the animal would easily escape among the moun- 
tains, and the hunter would also lose his falcon. 
They sometimes hunt ‘these animals with the ounce. This carnivorous 
and fierce creature, having been tamed and domesticated, generally sits on 
horseback behind the hunter, and remains there with the utmost composure, 
until the gazelle is shown. It is then that it exerts all its arts and fierce- 
ness; It does not at once fly at its prey, but approaches slily, turning and 
winding about until it comes within a proper distance, when all at once it 
bounds upon the animal, and iustantly kills it and sucks its blood. If, on 
the other hand, it misses its aim, it rests in its place without attempting to 
pursue it any farther, seemingly ashamed of its own inability. 
There is still another way of taking the gazelle, which seems not so cer- 
tain nor so amusing as either of the former. A tame gazelle is trained for 
this purpose, which is taught to join those of its kind wherever it perceives 
them. When the hunter, therefore, sees a herd of these animals together, 
he fixes a noose round the horns of the tame gazelle in such a manner, that 
if the rest but touch it they are entangled; and thus prepared, he sends his 
