FOOTNOTES:
[650] This is not the experience of Indian falconers. In a wild state peregrines moult late; doubtless the duties of maternity retard moulting. I have twice caught healthy haggard peregrine “falcons” at Christmas that still had an unshed flight-feather.
[651] Properly yarbūʿ.
[652] Mūsh-i k͟hānagī: mūsh is either a rat or a mouse; however, rats, except field rats (jerboas, etc.) are not found in Persia. (Doubtless ship rats are found in the ports.)
[653] The Persian Autumn is supposed to commence in the end of September.
CHAPTER XLII
ON FEELING THE PULSE, AND ON THE SIGNS OF HEALTH
My son, though life and death are in the hands of the Creator, still the physician is for the relief of the sick. Such remedies and treatments as I have by my own experience proved beneficial, I will here set down, so that they may remain on record.
Now, you must know that the pulse of birds lies in the second joint of the wing, and that the heat and the moisture of their temperament is known by holding the wing and feeling the pulse in it.
Know, that the pulse of a man in perfect health (that is a man in whom the four humours are balanced, no one humour preponderating over another), has seventy-five pulsations to the minute. If humidity preponderate, it beats less; if heat, more. In birds of prey, however, on account of their natural heat, the pulse beats from 135 to 140.[655] If the bird be fevered, it beats more; but if humidity preponderate, then less.
The signs of health in a short-winged hawk are these: she should be bright and ever on the look-out for food, and never mournful nor moping. The morning casting should be firm. When she mutes, she should do so quickly, and the mutes should be cast clear away to a distance:[656] the white of the mutes should be very white, with the dark portion somewhat firmer. She should drink regularly, and should bathe. After feeding, the stomach[657] should be quickly filled. When in the evening you place the hawk on her perch,[658] she should not sleep in the centre of it, but should move to one side to do so. A hawk that does all this is in robust health; but if out of sorts these conditions will not be found in her.