NOTES TO THE ILLUSTRATIONS. 271 



seizing a fox is given on p. 88 of the work quoted.] The author 

 continues : — " From the great ease with which an eagle disposes 

 of a full-grown fox I could see that a wolf would have no better 

 chance. Gazelles are seized in the same way, except those 

 with horns, in which case the eagle first fastens on to the loins of 

 the animal, and, watching his opportunity, transfers his grasp 

 to the throat, avoiding the horns. 



" The biirgoot, however, is not very easy to manage, and re- 

 quires the whole of one man's care. Its dash and courage are 

 great, but if flown unsuccessfully once or twice, it will often sulk 

 for the rest of the day. When it kills, it is always allowed to tear 

 at its game for a little time. The men told me that if prevented 

 doing so while its blood was up, it would very probably attack 

 our horses." 



It is even flown at wild boar. " During the envoy's tour in 

 the Artush district at the end of February," says Colonel Gordon 

 (p. 85), " the villagers assembled to show this sport. They 

 were mounted on the strong, active little horses of the country, 

 and carried clubs bent at the end like hockey sticks, with which 

 they strike the animal on the head till he is stunned, when the 



death-blow is generally given with some other weapon The 



trained eagle is flown at the hog on the first favourable oppor- 

 tunity, and generally succeeds by its sharp and powerful attack 

 in bringing it to bay, when the men close in with their clubs. 



" On the occasion alluded to, a splendid tusker was killed in 

 this manner; but from all I heard I should say that the wild 

 boar of these parts is not equal in fighting spirit to his brother 

 of Bengal." 



For further information respecting these trained eagles see the 

 references given in the note at top of p. 193. 



It may be added, in conclusion, that the spelling, berkut, here 

 adopted is that in vogue with the Russian falconers, who procure 

 these eagles via Orenburg from the Kirghis. 



It is not a little curious that the Welsh name for the Kite, 

 according to Pennant, is barcud, pronounced barkit. It is so- 

 called in Carmarthenshire, while in Pembrokeshire the common 

 Buzzard is thus designated (E. C Phillips, Zoologist, 1891, p. 

 173). Lord Lilford has heard the same name in Merionethshire 

 applied to the Marsh Harrier. The precise meaning of the 

 word is not explained, but it suggests that our word Kite has 



