64 



6 



upper parts becoming paler, the head less blotched or striped ; the underparts gradually lose the 

 large stripes; and the oval spots on the tail widen into stripes. As the underparts become 

 whiter the central rectrices assume spots, and then distinct bars, and the upper parts begin to 

 show barrings, until by degrees the entire upper parts attain bars as in the specimen from 

 Tarsus, which I have figured ; and then the very old stage of plumage as represented by 

 Mr. Hume (Lahore to Yarkand, pi. 1) is assumed. 



Mr. Sharpe (Cat. Accip. Brit. Mus. p. 417) has grouped this Falcon with the Jer-, Iceland, 

 and Greenland Falcons ; but this appears to me to be a mistake, for it decidedly has more 

 affinity with Falco jugger and Falco mexicanus ; and if it should prove advisable to separate the 

 genus Falco into several subdivisions, I should certainly follow Dr. Cabanis in grouping these 

 three species together under the subgeneric name of Pnigohierax. In confirmation of this view, 

 Mr. Gurney points out to me that, like the Saker, the Prairie-Falcon (Falco mexicanus) has the 

 central rectrices immaculate in the young plumage, whereas in the adult the back and entire tail 

 are transversely barred as in the very old Falco sacer. 



In habits the Saker appears to be more of a plain bird than either the Lanner or the 

 Peregrine ; and though much employed in falconry, it is scarcely as hardy a bird as the Peregrine ; 

 but it is said to be more useful in hawking gazelles than any of its allies, as it does not strike 

 with such force, and less frequently injures itself in its stoop. It is also used to take waterfowl 

 and hares. In India, Dr. Jerdon says, "it is flown chiefly at the Houbara Bustard (Otis mac- 

 queeni), also at hares, Kites, and occasionally at the Koolun (Grus cinerea) and the Heron. I 

 have had several trained for Cranes, and killed a few ; but it is certainly not such a good and 

 bold bird for that large quarry as the Peregrine. On one occasion I slipped a Cherrug at some 

 Cranes; and immediately afterwards four or five Sarus (Grus antigone) rose just behind them. 

 The Falcon came up first with these, and immediately attacked one and brought him to the 

 ground. On my riding up I found the Falcon clinging to her huge antagonist, who was in vain 

 endeavouring to shake her off and strike her with his curved claw. I dismounted immediately 

 and secured the prize. My falconers considered this a great feat. After the Houbara the flight 

 is often prolonged for two or three miles; and occasionally the Bustard escapes. After hares 

 two Falcons are often slipped, and manage to secure the hare between them ; but when only 

 one is used, a dog is generally slipped as well ; and, unless the ground is very unfavourable, it 

 generally secures a hare after it has been struck three or four times by the Falcon. It not 

 unfrequently happens that the hare is fairly lifted off the ground by the impetus of the Falcon's 

 swoop. The flight of the Cherrug after a Kite is very amusing, as the quarry makes extraor- 

 dinary exertions, by rising to a height and dodging the stoop of the Falcon, to escape her 

 inevitable capture." 



Messrs. Salvin and Brodrick, quoting from the ' Gentleman's Recreation,' a work published 

 in 1677, state that "the Saker is good also for lesser fowl, as Pheasant, Partridge, &c, and is 

 nothing so dainty of her diet as Hawks long-winged. This Hawk will make excellent sport with 

 a Kite, who, as soon as she sees the Saker (the male whereof is called a Sakeret) cast off, imme- 

 diately betakes herself to and trusts in the goodness of her wings, and getteth to her pitch, as 

 high as possibly she may, by making many turns and wrenches in the air, which if well observed, 

 together with the variety of contests and bickerings that are between them, it cannot but be 



