24 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



The Bhyri does not breed in tliis conntiy, nor even, I believe, in 

 the Himahiyas, but migrates to the north in April, and returns 

 about the first week of October. Mr, Layard mentions the Pere- 

 o-rine as breeding in Ceylon in January, and Dr. Adams says that 

 he found the nest on a tree on the banks of the Indus below Feroze- 

 pore; but I imagine in both cases an old Laggar has been mistaken 

 for the Bhiiri. The Peregrine breeds in Europe and Northern Asia, 

 on hi oh cliffs, often on the sea coast, or overhanging a river or 

 lake. The eggs, three or fi)ur in number, are reddish colored 

 with brown spots. 



The Bhyri is still trained in some parts of the country for the 

 purposes of falconry, and used to be so much more extensively than 

 now. The birds were mostly captured on the coast, and sold for a 

 few Rupees, from two or three to ten, to the falconers who came to 

 purchase them. It is trained to strike egrets, herons, storks, cranes, 

 the Anastomus, Ibis papillosa, Tantalus leucocephalns, &c. It has 

 been known though very rarely to strike the Bustard. Native fal- 

 coners do not train it to hunt in couples, as is done in Europe some- 

 times. I may here mention that the idea of tlie Heron ever trans- 

 fixing the hawk with its bill is scouted by all native falconers, 

 many of whom have had much greater experience than any Euro- 

 peans. After her prey is brought to the ground indeed, the Falcon 

 is sometimes in danger of a blow from the powerful bill of tlie 

 heron, unless she lays hold of the Heron's neck with one foot, 

 which an old bird always does. Whilst on this subject, I may state 

 that our best artists, Landseer included, represent the Falcon 

 wdien stopping on her quarry as striking with her beak, whereas, 

 as is well known, she strikes only with her talons, and chiefly with 

 the powerful hind claw, backed by the impetus of her stoop, 

 when she contracts the foot, and thus clutches her prey. When 

 the Kulunq, {Gnis virgo) is the quarry, the Bhi/ri keeps well 

 on its back to avoid a blow from the sharp, curved, inner claw of 

 the crane, which can, and sometimes does, inflict a severe wound. 



I see that a Falcon called El Bhari is known in North 

 Africa. It is said to be something like Falco Barbarus, but 

 larger. This may very probably be the Peregrine, or some 



