286 
Rev. H. B. Tristram on the 
have seen a gazelle brought into camp that had been so taken. 
This sport requires, however, more birds, and is very dangerous 
to the Falcons, who frequently impale themselves on the horns 
of their prey. It is not uncommon for both pursuer and victim 
to fall dead at one mutual stroke. 
In the pursuit of the Sand-grouse ( Pterocles setarius, Pt. 
arenarius, and Pt. guttatus) } no such dallying is allowed as with 
the Houbara. The covey rise, the hawk is thrown off with a 
jerk, another and another are thrown in rapid succession, and 
each singles out his own victim and strikes him in mid-air. 
But the same Falcon is seldom trained for ■ both sports. The 
flight of the Ganga and Chukhah (as Pt. arenarius and Pt. seta¬ 
rius are named) resembles that of the Golden Plover, and their 
defence is the very reverse of the method of the Houbara. They 
attempt, in wheeling circles, to rise above the Falcon, and scat¬ 
tering at a great height often distract his pursuit, and unless 
the hawk has been unhooded and thrown the very moment they 
were flushed, they are frequently successful. The education for 
this chase is by means of a trained Raven, who wheels in circles 
over the young bird, tempting him higher and higher. 
The apparatus of African falconers seems to be the same as 
in the olden time among ourselves—the same hoods and gloves, 
the same care in feeding, and the same quaint remedies and 
nostrums. I never was able to discover the breeding-places of 
the Sakkr, though I have seen the young birds in captivity 
scarcely fledged. The price of a well-trained Sakkr or Banner 
is from 200 to 300 Spanish dollars (J?40 to ,£60); and I re¬ 
peatedly, but in vain, offered 200 dollars for one. The Sheik 
considers a falcon of the same value as a thoroughbred horse, 
and will exchange one for the other. No wonder then that I 
found it impossible to obtain a specimen for my collection. In¬ 
deed, it would have been a crime of the blackest dye to have 
shot one had I had the opportunity. The Arab holds vrith old 
Master Latham— 
“ A Faulcon is a Prince’s pleasant sport. 
’Tis sport and pleasure delightful to the eye. 
Haggard hawke with mounting Lark to flie. 
Amidst your pleasures then take this delight, 
Maintain the Faulconer and his Faulcon’s flight.” 
