488 
BIRD-LIFE. 
Dispenser of grace and plenty/’ so runs the tale, “ blessed 
everything upon the earth, and gave special gifts to 
different creatures, which they should hold so long as 
they showed themselves worthy of the grace of Allah and 
rejoiced in his mercy. On the steppes of the desert thou 
canst behold a Falcon, the e Sukhr el Hakihm,’* whom 
the Sublime and All-wise Being has endowed with great 
wisdom and knowledge. This is the physician to the 
birds of the air; he is acquainted with the diseases 
under which the creatures of the Creator labour, as also 
the plants and roots which cure them. Thou mayest 
see it bringing these in its claws from distant lands, f It 
is useless for thee to seek to know whither it comes, or 
when it is called upon to heal the sick. The efficacy of 
the treatment is unfailing; to take its potions is to secure 
life, while neglect of them is certain death; they are like 
the ‘ Hedjahb’ (Amulet), on which is written a prayer of 
Mahomet’s in the hand of God’s ambassador (‘ The peace 
of the Great Dispenser of all peace be upon him! ’), 
which awakens the light of faith within us. It is 
permitted, by the grace of God, that the poor sons of 
Adam should make use of this bird. Watch where the 
Eagle Doctor makes its nest; be sure, however, not to 
take or destroy the eggs; wait patiently until the 
feathers of the young bird are free from blood, and then 
go to the Eagle’s abode and injure or wound one of the 
nestlings, you will immediately become aware of the fact 
that the father flies in the morning in the direction toward 
which you turn when at prayer; wait quietly till he returns 
with a root in his claws ; frighten him as he approaches, 
* “ Doctor Eagle,” Arabian name of the Bateleur.— Brehm. 
+ The Arab, doubtless, sees the snakes, which the bird carries off to its nest, or 
some other quiet place, and takes them for roots.— Brehm. 
