FOOTNOTES:
[105] Dasht-māla may be translated “desert-quarterer.” In the Panjab this is the name of the Pale Harrier (Circus Swainsonii) and probably also of Montague’s Harrier (Circus cineraceus).
[106] In the young of the Marsh Harrier, the iris is hazel. The iris of the female of Montague’s Harrier is also said to be hazel.
[107] “‘Tiercel, Tercel, Tassel’ (Shakespeare) and ‘Tarsell’ (Bert), the male of any species of hawk, the female being termed a falcon. The tiercel is said by some to be so called from being about one-third smaller in size than the falcon; by others it is derived from the old belief that each nest contained three young birds, of which two were females and the third and smallest a male. Note the familiar line in Romeo and Juliet: ‘Oh! for a falconer’s voice to lure this tassel gentle back again.’”—Harting.
[108] It is not clear which of the two species the author trained, but apparently the “black-eyed.”
[109] “Reclaim;” Fr. réclamer, to make a hawk tame, gentle and familiar.—Harting.
[110] Durrāj; the Common Francolin (F. vulgaris). It is a favourite cage-bird in India, especially with the Muhammadans, who liken its call to the words Subhān Teri Qudrat “Oh Lord! Thy Power” (i.e., who can fathom it?). The practical Hindus say its call is, Chha ser kī kacharī, “Twelve pounds of kacharī.”
[111] Yalva is a name incorrectly applied to several species of bird with long beaks, as the woodcock and snipe, etc. I am told that in Teheran it is applied to a rail.
CHAPTER X
THE LAMMERGEYER OR BEARDED VULTURE
[The description of the Bearded Vulture[112] as given by the author is sufficiently accurate for identification. He, however, adorns it with “two horns or ears like those of the horned owls.” He then continues:]—
The Lammergeyer is noted for its wondrous powers of flight. It soars aloft, bearing with ease a bone as large as the bleached thigh-bone of a donkey. This it drops on a rock, and then descends to eat the shattered fragments.[113] The Poet has said of it:—
“The Humā o’er other birds has flown
Because its food is only bone.”[114]
Popular Superstition.—It is a popular superstition that any one wilfully slaying a Lammergeyer will meet his death within forty days. Once, when out hawking, I saw one of these fateful birds seated on a stone a short distance from me. With me was a servant, a sturdy villain fearing nothing. Gun in hand he approached the Lammergeyer, bent on slaughter. Do all I could, I failed to dissuade him. I told him the popular superstition, but he laughed and said, “Oh! that’s an old woman’s story.” Heedless of my advice he shot the Lammergeyer, and died himself on the fortieth day. This is a fact: I myself was an eye-witness. Was his death a mere coincidence, or is there truth in the vulgar belief? God knows.
Taking a Lammergeyer with a Chark͟h.—I was once hawking in Sulaymānīya Shahrzūr[115] and saw what I took to be an eagle,[116] seated on a stone some little way off. I had with me a very fine chark͟h[117] trained to eagles.[118] To unhood and cast it off was the work of a moment, and it was not till I had actually secured the quarry, that I discovered it was no eagle but a Lammergeyer. I recollected the fate of my servant, and hastily released it. [By a play on the words humā and humāyūn, the author here pays the Shāh a flowery and far-fetched compliment, difficult to render in English. He pretends that the popular belief mentioned in the first note on the previous page was certainly fulfilled in his case, since the King of Kings had always distinguished him by his especial friendship and bounty, and thus raised him to the dignity of ordinary kingship. He adds:]—
Through the lucky shadow of the Humā’s wing
Am I thus highly honoured by the King.
Honoured of him, Lord of my fate I stand,
And rich as Korah, through his bounteous hand.