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Ornithology of Northern Africa . 
poised herself above it, an ill-trained or impetuous bird is very 
apt to strike it in the air. This, according to the view of your 
Desert connoisseur, is a most unpardonable and unsportsman¬ 
like offence, to be punished with death. A skilful hawk will at 
once rise to a considerable height, then swooping down make 
feints until the Bustard takes to its legs instead of its wings. 
The Falcon then poises herself over it while a second is flung 
off the wrist, and the two together give chase,—the speed of the 
Houbara being such that a fleet Arab can scarcely keep up with 
the pursuit. The poor bird runs along, aiding its speed by a 
perpetual fanning with its wings, its head stretched forward 
like a corncrake's, and its conspicuous black and white ruff 
folded close back over its neck,—a pitiable contrast to the proud 
fellow who was lately strutting with head erect, elevated crest, 
and expanded ruff, challenging all comers. The pursuers hang 
over him only a few yards above him, and at each effort he 
makes to take wing, swoop down with a feint. It is considered 
the excellency of a Falcon to make these feints at the quarry 
until it is nearly exhausted, when the fatal swoop is made, and 
the bird instantly drops, struck dead by the hind claw having 
pierced its vertebrae. This manner of hunting is probably prac¬ 
tised both to afford more prolonged excitement to the horsemen, 
but chiefly from the singular mode of self-defence adopted by 
the Houbara, and which I have had various opportunities of 
observing myself. As the hawk approaches, the Houbara ejects 
both from the mouth and vent a slimy fluid *. A well-trained 
bird eludes this shower by repeated feints until the quarry's 
supply of moisture is exhausted; an impatient one rushes in, 
and gets his feathers and whole plumage so bedaubed, that his 
flight is materially impeded, and his swoop, when made, is irre¬ 
solute. 
With a leash of Falcons, two Haggards, and a Tiercel Sakkr, 
I have known three Houbaras and a Sand-grouse or two cap¬ 
tured in a day, and the chase was terminated merely on account 
of the fatigue of the horses. I was never actually present at the 
chase of the gazelle, but it is very commonly practised, and I 
* I have experienced, to mv annoyance, a similar mode of defence 
adopted by the Water-Tortoise. 
