FOOTNOTES:
[95] The following description of owling is taken from Blaine’s Encyclopedia of Rural Sports. It is stated there that any owl may be used, but that the great horned owl is the usual bait:—“The owl, confined between two wooden stands or rests, is taught to fly from one rest to the other without touching the ground. Between the rests, a cord is stretched, on which a ring plays, and to which another slacker cord is attached by one end, the other being fastened to the jesses on the legs of the owl, whose movements are thus confined to flying from one block or rest to the other. To this change of posture he is accustomed by presenting him with food on the opposite side to that on which he may happen to be resting, until he becomes completely habituated to this method of exercising himself. A saloon is now formed in the midst of a copse, of boughs, in the centre of which a log or stand rests, and without the saloon a similar one is placed about a hundred paces distant, the intermediate space on which the owl is placed being cleared away. It is necessary that the top and sides of this saloon should be covered with boughs in such a manner that although the outside is distinctly seen there is no opening that will admit any bird to enter with unfolded wings. Nets are placed against the top and sides, leaving open that part only opposite to the resting place of the owl. The fowler, now concealing himself, keeps watch, and when he observes the owl lower his head and turn it on one side, he becomes certain that some bird of prey is in the air. The hawk, now marking the owl for his own, follows him into his retreat; when, becoming hampered in the meshes of the net, he is easily secured.” Vide also History of Fowling, by the Rev. H. A. Macpherson: Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1896.
[96] “‘Tower;’ ‘ring up;’ to rise spirally to a height.”—Harting.
[97] The Indian grass-owl, Strix candida, though a much more difficult quarry than the short-eared owl, can be successfully flown by a trained saker, provided the latter is in high condition: a saker is not fit for this flight unless she weighs at least 2 lbs. 4 oz., better 2 lbs. 6 oz.
[98] Such as Kāz̤imayn, Najaf, Karbalā, etc.
[99] ʿArūs-i chāh; ʿarūs is the Arabic for “bride,” but chāh, “well,” is Persian.
[100] Ḥarām: the sacred precincts round both Mecca and Medina are known as ḥarām, and certain acts such as slaying game are forbidden within the boundaries. Ḥarām is also a name for the women’s apartments. The author by ḥarām probably means the sacred precincts of Mecca, but from the context his meaning is not clear.
[101] In the Derajat this owlet, called there chhapākī, is a quarry for the shikra, and also for the common and the red-headed merlin. Its blood is supposed to be a cure for prickly heat, hence its local name. (Chhapākī is a corruption of shapākī, “prickly heat”.) In some parts of India it is used as a decoy for small birds.
[102] Murg͟h-i shab-āhang.
[103] Murg͟h-i Ḥaqq. Ḥaqq means the “Truth” or “God.” This little owl, which is probably the Persian owlet (Athene Persica), is reverenced by Muhammadans: it clings to walls and cries “Ḥaqq, Ḥaqq,” after the manner of the dervishes.
[104] Kākulī. Elsewhere the author states that the Arabs call this lark quṃburah, which is an Arab name for the Crested Lark (Alauda cristata).
CHAPTER IX
THE HARRIERS
Harriers.—[The author next proceeds to describe what appear to be two species of harriers. He says:]—
We now come to the Bayl-bāqilī, called by the Kurds, Dasht-māla,[105] and by the Arabs, Abū-ḥikb. There are two species, one yellow-eyed, and one dark-eyed.[106]
Yellow-eyed Species.—In the yellow-eyed species, the plumage of the young bird is henna-coloured [chestnut brown], but after its first moult, some white feathers make their appearance. After the second or third moult, the plumage is very like that of the Tīqūn Goshawk, the back turning a bluish grey and the breast becoming white. The female is about the size of a small Qizil “tiercel.”[107] Only a falconer could distinguish the adult female from a Tīqūn tiercel. The “stalke” of this species is long and slender.
Dark-eyed Species.—In the dark-eyed species, there is no material difference between the plumage of the young and the adult bird. In the latter, however, the markings on the breast are larger. The general colouring of the dark-eyed species is darker than that of the yellow-eyed.
In habits, both species are similar; they haunt open plains, preying on mice and sparrows, and occasionally on quails. They are mean-spirited, ignoble birds, with poor and weakly frames.
Wager with the Shāh.—When in attendance on the Shāh (may our souls be sacrificed for him!) I once made a bet with some fellow sportsmen that I would catch a harrier[108] and train it to take chukor. I made no idle boast. Praise be to God, I won my bet and proved myself a man of my word, for I trained it and took a chukor with it. The puissant King of Kings, who has surpassed in renown even Jamshed and Cyrus, regarded me with extreme condescension, and in just appreciation of my skill bestowed on me lavish commendation and a rich robe of honour.
On a second occasion, in Baghdad, I laid a wager of a Nejd mare with some sportsmen of that city, that within a space of fifty days I would “reclaim”[109] one of these hawks and successfully fly it at wild quarry. I flew it in the presence of my friends, and took with it one black partridge,[110] one quail, and one rail.[111]
As previously stated, it is quite possible to train these hawks, as indeed it is possible to train many other useless birds of prey: even—
The Bird whose Soul Delights the night
With care and trouble you can train,
To use its senses, use its sight,
In flying quarry on the plain.
The harrier is an ill-tempered bird with no great powers of flight. To train it is a matter of extreme difficulty, and the result by no means repays the labour. However, give the devil his due: it is very long-winded.