Notice of a Goshawk, fyc, by Sir W. Elliot. 323 



the former as black-eyed (siah-chashm), the latter as pale- 

 eyed (or guldl-chashm), the irids of the one being invariably 

 black, of the other yellow or whitish. Among the former, 

 the Peregrine (or byhree) stands pre-eminent ; while of the 

 latter, the Goshawk (or baz) is most esteemed. The byhree 

 is trained to strike the heron, the Tantalus or dokh (Tantalus 

 leucocephalus) ; the demoiselle crane (Ardea virgo) ; and 

 sometimes even the common crane (Grus cinered), or the 

 bustard (Otis nigriceps). The haggard,* or bird that has 

 left the nest to prey for itself, is generally preferred to the 

 eyass, or nestling ; and it is remarkable how soon the bird 

 learns to adapt its attack to the defensive tactics of its several 

 adversaries. The Tantalus has a strong, sharp cutting beak, 

 like a pair of scissors. She is therefore taught to seize it by 

 the head. The cranes being armed with a formidable talon 

 on the middle claw of each foot, a kick would tear the byhree 

 open, if it was not taught to pounce upon the shoulder and 

 so keep clear of the leg. But the bustard is generally too 

 much for it, for when threatened by the falcon, it alights on 

 the ground, where its great stature and strength enables it 

 to drive off its little assailant. It is said, however, that a 

 certain Nawab of Banganapilly, near Cuddapah, by dint of 

 hard riding, once prevented a bustard from settling, so that 

 it was eventually struck down by the byrhee ; a consumma- 

 tion, which so pleased the Nawab that he bestowed a village 

 in free gift on the falconer. 



Another black-eyed falcon, the Shahin (F. peregrinator), 

 is trained to " the standing gait," or, in other words, to hover 

 over the falconer's head at a considerable height, till the 

 quarry, a partridge or florikin (a kind of little bustard) 



* The haggard is caught at the close of the rainy season, by means of 

 springs set by persons of the nomade fowler caste, called Yukalas or Yukal- 

 was, at the edge of tanks, which then swarm with wild fowl on which the 

 byhree preys. When secured, the captor passes a needle and thread through 

 the edge of her eyelids, which are then pulled up and the ends of the thread 

 tied over the top of her head, which effectually closes her eyes. Her feet are 

 then fitted with jesses, and she is made over to the falconer, who places her 

 on his fist and carries her continually day and night, relieved at intervals by 

 his assistants. She is thus kept without sleep and sparingly fed, till her 

 savage disposition is effectually subdued, which generally takes about a week 

 or ten days. The thread is then gradually loosened to let her see ; and then 

 being withdrawn, is replaced by an easy hood. She is then made over to the 

 charge of her special attendant— each falcon having her own, — who carries 

 her for several hours daily, hooding and unhooding, caressing and handling 

 her, till she is perfectly reclaimed and ready to begin her education by the 

 head falconer. 



