Vol. Ill, No. 6.] Note on the Bed-headed Merlin. 399 



[N.S,'] 



that it falls. An assistant runs up, and feeds the hawk on a 

 pigeon's wing secretly introduced under the crane's wing. The 

 hawk, still feeding, is hooded on the crane and then forcibly 

 removed. The hawk now regards a live crane on the ground as 

 merely a variety of the dead lure, and not more formidable. The 

 falconer next procures a white bullock as a ' stalking-horse,' and 

 trains it to walk slowly while he crouches under its shoulder, 

 guiding it with a small stick and keeping step with its fore 

 feet- By means of the bullock a flock of grazing crane is stalked 

 to within a few yards, and the hawk is cast off and a crane 

 secured before the latter has had time to brush the hawk off its 

 back with its feet, or even to spread its wings to rise from the 



ground. 



Let us not be too hasty in ridiculing the narratives of 

 ancient travellers. They may contain statements that to us 

 -appear marvellous, but the mystery is often explained away by 

 minute inquiry. 



