[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,