394 



In North Africa the present species is highly esteemed for falconry purposes ; and Loche 

 gives some interesting details respecting this sport, which I translate as follows : — " In the spring, 

 when the Houbara is very fat, the Arab chiefs, who are passionately fond of falconry, pursue it 

 with Falcons ; and for a European it is a curious sight to watch these superb individuals, each of 

 whom carries on his fist a richly hooded Falcon, which seems impatient to exhibit its courage 

 and skill. The plain is beaten for Houbaras, which display great ingenuity in their efforts to 

 escape from their enemies, dodging here and there, plunging into the bushes again and again. 

 When one is forced to take wing the Falcons are unhooded, and these latter start in pursuit as 

 swift as an arrow, and strike the Bustard down. Sometimes when it finds that it will be struck 

 by the Falcon, the Bustard throws itself on its back and strikes its enemy viciously with its feet. 

 In a chase at which we were present a superb Falcon, belonging to a chief of the Ouled Nails, 

 which had struck at a Houbara, passed for a moment below its quarry, and this latter at once 

 discharged its excrement over it. To my great surprise I heard the owner of the Falcon at once 

 cry out in a tone of despair, ' My poor Falcon is dishonoured, and will die ; the Houbara has 

 poisoned her!' We at first laughed at this allegation, which seemed to us ridiculous; but, to 

 our astonishment, the poor Falcon, which shortly before was in full health and vigour, expired 

 in a very short space of time. 1 can give no explanation of this, and merely describe what 

 passed in my presence." 



The specimen figured is an adult male, from Alexandria, in the collection of Mr. Howard 

 Saunders. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser, 

 a, 3 ad. Laghouat, Algeria, March 30th (J. H. Gurney, jun.) . 



E Mus. Howard Saunders. 



a, j ad. Alexandria, December 2nd, 1864 {Stafford Allen) . b, 5 . Ain Ousera, Algeria, March 19th, 1870 

 (J. H. Gurney, jun.). 



E Mus. H. B. Tristram, 

 a, 6 . Ain Boudijah, Sahara, June 3rd, 1856 (H. B. T.) . b, $ . Laghouat, March 29th, 1870 (J. H. Gurney, jun.) . 



