RUFFED KUSTAKD. O 



The RufFed Bustard, or, as it was also called by 

 Latliam, the Undulated Trumpeter, is only an accidental 

 visitor in Europe. It is however found wandering 

 from its African home into Spain, Portugal, Silesia, 

 Dalmatia, Turkey, Greece, Germany, Switzerland, and 

 Belgium. It is found especially in the north of 

 Africa, being common in the plains between the moun- 

 tains and the coast in the neighbourhood of Tripoli, 

 Tunis, and Constantine. Mr. Tristram says it occurs 

 throughout the Sahara, but becomes rare in the south, 

 though most abundant about the Dayats, and to the edge 

 of the Chebkha M'zab. It is also found in Arabia. 



In the first volume of the "Ibis," page 284, Mr. 

 Tristram has given a most interesting account of the 

 Houbara, or, as Temminck tells us we ought to spell 

 it, the Hubara Bustard, and he has gone at some length 

 into details of Falconry as pursued by the Arabs. I 

 will make no apology for quoting the following long 

 extract from this graphic and interesting description. 

 The Saker Falcon, which Mr. Tristram says is found 

 more in the desert, and the Lanner Falcon, (Ibis, first 

 volume of the work,) are those which are chiefly used 

 by the Arab sportsmen; and they prize them so highly 

 that Mr. Tristram ofiered in vain £40 for a live speci- 

 men. I will let him however speak in his own words: — 



"The Arab Sheiks pursue the sport of Falconry with 

 all the zeal, skill, and science of the ^ noble mysterie' 

 of our ancestors. The villein who presumed to raise his 

 head against the king's deer was not more certain of 

 condign punishment from the Norman, than the plebeian 

 Sehaur who should dare to cast a hawk in the Sahara. 

 No Aga or Sheik of high degree ever moves for war, 

 business, or pleasure unattended by his falconers, who 

 are his confidential lieutenants. The care of three 



