You may argue that a heron closely resembles a crane in colour and in shape, while a raven does not. Quite so—but a heron is, compared to a crane, a small and feeble[568] quarry, one that your hawk will easily take.[569] Flown at a heron she will say to herself, “Hallo! there are two kinds of crane, one suitable and the other unsuitable; the former is the game for me; no more of the latter.” The raven and the stone-plover, however, have no resemblance to the crane; a successful flight at either, duly rewarded by warm flesh, strengthens a shāhīn’s courage.
If your shāhīn that slays the long-legged crane,
Fly at her prey, and haply fly in vain,
An your heart wish her to resume the chase,
On raven or stone-plover try her pace.
Then, when at length at crane she may be cast,
You’ll find this flight will far surpass the last.
But let her kill a heron—then goodbye!
For naught but easy quarry will she try:
She’ll say, “No strong tenacious crane for me!