284 
Rev. H. B. Tristram on the 
sert. It was preying upon a large lizard in the Desert of Souf. 
The Arabs seemed, however, well-acquainted with it under its 
name of ‘ Ogab abiad.' 
7. Falco sacer. (The Saker Falcon.) “El Sakkr” Arab. 
8. Falco lanarius. (The Lanner Falcon.) 
I much regret that the extreme value set by the Arabs upon 
their Falcons, and their suspicion of my designs, prevented me 
from bringing home a specimen of the much-disputed Saker 
Falcon. I purchased a skin in Tunis of the Falco lanarius , and 
obtained myself the Falco punicus in the Desert in winter, as 
Mr. Salvin also'did when we were together in spring. Still, I 
had many opportunities of observing the Lanner and Saker in 
a state of domestication, and occasionally saw a bird haunting 
the cliffs which could be none other than the true Lanner. As 
far as I could discover, the Lanner breeds about the Atlas 
range, chiefly, if not exclusively, on its southern side, while the 
Saker is a more truly Desert habitant. 
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 hand 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 Agha 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 Falcons 
is considered sufficient employment for one falconer with an 
assistant; and on the march, one or two of these important 
personages follow mounted immediately behind the Sheik, with 
a hooded Falcon on the wrist and one perched on each shoulder. 
The Houbara Bustard is the favourite quarry; but eagles, kites, 
sand-grouse (and in the case of the Sakkr Falcon, the gazelle) 
afford equal sport to the huntsman. When a Bustard is descried, 
the whole cavalcade instantly halt, the hawk on the wrist is 
transferred to the hand of his master, who, attended by his fal¬ 
coners alone, instantly sets off, and unhooding his bird, throws 
him from his wrist towards the Bustard. Much skill is exercised 
in drawing the attention of the Falcon to the Bustard before it 
rises. Should it unfortunately take wing before its pursuer has 
