FOOTNOTES:
[177] It must be recollected that the term shāhīn includes the peregrine.
[178] Good evidence, but not proof, since there is nothing to show that the “shāhīn” was flying its fastest, or that the condition of both birds was the same. Vide also note [236], page 56.
[179] Blanford (Eastern Persia, vol. II., page 103), writes:—“Persian falconers distinguished three varieties of Shahin, the Stambulī, Karabāghī and Fārsī, the first from Western Asia Minor, the second from Circassia, Georgia and Armenia, and the third from Southern Persia. The first has the darkest plumage, the last the lightest.... The Shahin is, however, not so much used in Persia as formerly; indeed, I have never seen it out of the royal mews, except when brought to Bushire, for sale to the Arabs of the opposite coast. The falcon described by Marco Polo as found in the mountains of Paríz near Karmán, can be no other than the Sháhín. The old traveller says, ‘In the mountains of Paríz near Karmán are found the best falcons in the world. They are inferior in size to the peregrine, red on the breast, under the neck and between the thighs; their flight is so swift that no bird can escape them’.”
Considerable confusion exists as to the term Shāhīn. Arab falconers in the Persian Gulf and the Persians of Bushire call the female peregrine shāhīna, and rarely baḥrīya. The Shayk͟hs of Baḥrayn Island procure peregrines from Bushire. The shāhīn (but not the peregrine) seems to be unknown in Baṣrah and Bag͟hdād. An Arabic MS. composed in the tenth century says, “If you desire to possess a shāhīn, then procure one of the peregrine (baḥrī) kind, especially if it be black-backed, ugly-faced, narrow-bodied, short-tailed, large-headed, sunken-eyed, piercing-eyed, large-beaked, deep-mouthed, short-backed, with long flight-feathers, and wings far apart from the body.” The peregrine (baḥrī) is unknown to the falconers of Kirman except by name. The shāhīn, however, is not uncommon in the district. The translator, who was for eighteen months in Kirman, found three nests of the shāhīn and one of the charg͟h. The shāhīns of Pārīz are, however, no longer famous.
[180] Is this meant for Erzerum?
[181] Ardabīl is East of Tabrīz and almost on the Caspian. It is a convict station.
[182] Shammar is a hilly district in Central Arabia.
[183] Sīvās. Is this the town in Asia Minor on the river Kizl Irmak and south of Trebizond?
[184] Shikārchī is the Turkish equivalent of the Hindustani shikārī. These words do not necessarily refer to professionals.
[185] In Persian, “to regard with the left eye” is an idiom for “to gaze at with contempt; to regard as an enemy.”
[186] Kulāg͟h-i ablaq, lit. “the piebald crow,” is the Royston Crow or a species exactly like it; it is common round Baghdad and in Persia. (The English magpie is also common in Persia and may locally be so named.)—Vide page 55, note [227].
[187] Yāplāg͟h-i pidar-sag, “the dog-fathered yāplāq,” is perhaps the Indian grass-owl or a species like it. The Author also calls another species, probably the Short-eared Owl, yāplāg͟h, but omits the epithet “son of a dog” when mentioning it. The former is a difficult quarry, the latter an easy one.—Vide note 2, page 23.
[188] Apparently an adjective from Urūm.
CHAPTER XVIII
THE PEREGRINE (BAḤRĪ)
Baḥrī.—I have already stated my opinion that the Peregrine is merely the Rūmalī Shāhīn caught after it has left the nest.
At any rate the best variety of peregrine is the yellowish, almond[189]-coloured, variety.
I have trained peregrines[190] to gazelle. They are, however, delicate[191] birds, as well as bold and daring: they dash themselves impetuously against the gazelle’s horns and thus frequently injure themselves fatally. This is the reason that falconers do not care to train them to gazelle. Further, on account of the flightiness[192] of their disposition they are not so very highly prized. When choosing a peregrine, select one with large feet, short legs, and long slender wings. Count the scales on the middle toe. Ordinarily there are only seventeen or eighteen.[193] If you find a bird with twenty-one, you have a treasure. A good peregrine should have a fine full breast, a broad back, and toes that are long and lean; and its body should be round and compact. An old master has not without reason sung:—
If I could have my fancy free,
Goshawks like wagtails[194] all should be,
And Sparrow-hawks like Goshawks all;
But Shāhīns round and Charg͟hs tall.[195]
Should Baḥrīs too from faults be free,
In truth broad-shouldered they must be.