INTRO D UCTION. 



exemplify the phraseology of its unknown author. The history 

 and disputed authorship of the almost equally rare Livre du 

 Roi Modus is examined (pp. 61-66). The celebrated Spanish 

 treatise on Falconry by the Prince Don Juan Manuel is 

 epitomised (pp. 1 1 3-1 1 5), as is also that of the famous work of 

 Martinez de Espinar. An epitome is furnished (pp. 169-172) 

 of the Latin work of the Emperor Frederick II., De Arte 

 Venandi cum Avibus (1245), and of the Greek work of 

 Demetrius of Constantinople, written in 1270 (pp. 181-183) ; 

 while in the case of the Russian books catalogued, half-a- 

 dozen in number, a transliteration of the titles follows the 

 original, and is succeeded by an abstract of the contents. 



I can claim no acquaintance, I regret to say, with Oriental 

 languages, but by means of French and German translations, 

 and with the assistance of friends well versed in the matter, 

 I have been able to give an account of most, if not all, of the 

 treatises on Falconry which are worth quoting in Turkish, 

 Persian, Arabic, Chinese, and Japanese. It may be observed 

 that many of these are in MS., and there is perhaps little 

 likelihood of their being published. Strictly speaking, as 

 manuscripts, they ought not to have been included in the 

 present Catalogue ; but to have omitted all mention of them 

 would have been to pass over some important sources of in- 

 formation, while by directing attention to their existence, oppor- 

 tunity is afforded to the reader of judging the extent of Oriental 

 literature on this particular branch of sport. 



To Mr. Sydney A. J. Churchill, of the Persian Legation, I 

 am indebted for much kind assistance in regard to the Persian 

 and Arabic titles, and the fact that the proof-sheets of this 

 portion of the Bibliotheca Accipitraria have been revised by the 

 eminent Orientalist, Dr. Rieu, of the British Museum, gives it 

 an imprimatur without which it could not be expected to find 

 favour in the eyes of critics. As regards the Chinese and 

 Japanese titles, I am under great obligation to Mr. F. V. 

 Dickins, Assistant Registrar of the University of London, 

 whose knowledge of these languages has enabled him to give 

 most valuable assistance. 



Altogether, there are catalogued 378 titles in nineteen lan- 

 guages. The way in which they are apportioned will be seen on 



