4052 Birds. 



the supposed-to-be-protected filberts within. I have found it an excellent plan, in or- 

 der to prevent this wholesale destruction, to have a piece of zinc made in the shape of 

 an inverted basin, and nailed round the stem of the filbert-tree, taking care at the same 

 time to have all the long- pendant branches trimmed off, so that they cannot be reached 

 from the ground, or from the over-hanging boughs of any adjacent tree, — a precaution 

 often neglected by gardeners, who are often surprised to find all their care in vain, 

 because they have left- some pea-stick or rake-handle leaning against the tree, so as to 

 enable the squirrels to reach what they are seeking to obtain, without ascending the 

 stem of the tree, which the zinc basin will effectually prevent their doing. The same 

 plan prevents their attacking walnuts. Squirrels do not seem much inclined, except at 

 particular times, to take the green walnuts before the time for gathering has arrived ; 

 but not so with the nuts and filberts, of which great quantities may be seen every sum- 

 mer lying under the trees totally destroyed, so that scarcely a single nut or filbert is 

 left on the tree, and this long before they are fit for gathering, as if the squirrels had 

 tried them in mere wantonness one after another, and, finding them unripe, had cast 

 them underneath, until bushels upon bushels are thus destroyed. This wholesale de- 

 struction is effectually prevented, and at a most trifling expense, by the method above 

 mentioned ; the same zinc cap or basin will last for many years, and may either be ta- 

 ken off in winter, or be left on altogether. — W. H. Staney ; Hatton Hall, August 10, 

 1853. 



Note on the Vulture or Eagle which is said to attack the trained Falcons of the 

 Asiatic Falconers. — In a former number (Zool. 3648) I called attention to the above 

 circumstance, attributed by Lieut. Burton to a species of vulture, and by Mr. Jerdon 

 to the Bonelli's eagle. Since that date, this curious subject has been touched upon 

 in two other works, namely, Mr. Layard's ' Second Expedition to Nineveh,' and Mr. 

 Barker's work on Cilicia, intituled, ' Lares and Penates.' In Mr. Layard's work (p. 

 299) occurs the following passage: — "Suttum came with us, carrying his hawk ' Hat- 

 tab ' on his wrists. * * * Game abounded, and the falcon soon flew towards 

 a bustard, which his piercing eye had seen lurking in the long grass. The sun was 

 high in the heavens, — already soaring in the sky was the enemy of the trained hawk, 

 the ' Agab,' a kind of kite or eagle, whose name, signifying 'butcher,' denotes its bloody 

 propensities. Although far beyond our ken, he soon saw Hattab, and darted upon 

 him in one swoop. The affrighted falcon immediately turned from his quarry, and, 

 with shrill cries of distress, flew towards us. After circling round, unable from fear to 

 alight, he turned towards the desert, still followed by his relentless enemy. In vain 

 his master, following as long as his mare could carry him, waved the lure, and called 

 the hawk by his name, — he saw him no more. Whether the noble bird escaped, or 

 fell a victim to the 'butcher,' we never knew. Suttum was inconsolable at his loss.'' 

 Mr. Layard adds in a note, " Easterns never hawk, if they can avoid it, when the sun 

 is high, as the bird of prey described in the text then appears in search of food.'' Mr. 

 Barker, in his work on Cilicia (p. 294), speaking of a trained goshawk which he had 

 in that country, says, " There was nothing he would not fly at, if I would let him go, 

 and he once actually attacked a vulture, which had carried off one of his companions, 

 a goshawk belonging to a sporting friend, who was out with me, and who had neg- 

 lected his bird in pursuing the game his dogs were hot upon." At p. 297, Mr. Barker 



