The Grenada gazette., 1886-12-11
HUNTING WITH EAGLES.
How the Tartars Pursue the Fleet and
Graceful Saiga Antelope.

Graceful SaiEa Antelope.
Falconry is without doubt the nearest
to real sport of any of the various
modes of hunting ever employed by
man, and singularly enough it is one Of
the earliest historically recorded pas
times. Chinese annals, which, how
ever, are not to be depended upon, men
ton the use of the falcon at as early a
date as 1000 years before Christ. Nine
veh and Egypt by their hieroglyphics
place the sport back to a time not much
later than the Chinese date, and both
Aristotle and Pliny bear witness to its
existence in their times. What it was
during the Middle Ages in Europe is so
well known as to need no comment
upon it.
AT the present day falconry is an ex-
ot:c in Europe, having even less fol-
lowing than fox-hunt:ng on American
soil; but in Asia the sport is as en-
Enthusiastically cultivated as ever it was,
and is carried to extremes deemed i'm
possible in Europe even in the palmy
days OF falconry. The eagle, accord
ing to European authorities on the sub
ject, was an ignoble bird, because
though OF the same family as the falcon,
it was considered untamable. The
Iartars. however, for ages back have
been OF a contrary opinion, and have
trained a species of eagle, allied to our
golden cage, for the chase of such game
rs the wolf, fox and antelope.
The saga antelope is the favorite
game, owing to the peculiar character
istics of that graceful creature. The
saiga is the prototype of the unicorn,
from the fact that it frequently loses
one of its horns in combat, AMI by ear
" writer's was supposed to normally
wear but one horn. Unlike other ante
lopcs the female saiga does not have
horns, and, moreover, the horns of the
male are semi-transparcnt. Its nose is
strangely developed and falls in a
wrinkled mass over the mouth. SO
much in the way is this curious feature,
and so exceedingly large arc the nos
trls, that in cropping the herbage the
creature is obliged to move backward
in order to avoid the twigs and other
materials which would otherwise enter
the nostrils. In drinking the nose acts
equally with the mouth as channel for
the water. 1t is hardly necessary to
say, however, that it is not for these pc
cullar;tics that the saiga is hunted; it is
for its extreme watchfulness, t'midity
and tleetncss that that the saiga prom
ises such good sport. A herd, which
will at times number thousands. will
never lie down to rest until scntinels
have been appointed to keep watch.
These scntinels are regularly relieved,
and do duty so faithfully that 1t is eX-
tremcly difficult for any enemy TO ap-
proach at all near to them. The mo-
ment the danger signal is given, the
whole herd springs away at pace that
leaves even the swiftcst horse far in the
rear.
This speed can not be sustained long,
hewovnr and after time the herd
stops to rest. This is the opportunity
of the hunter, who. with eagle on the
saddle before him, has eagerly pursued
the flying quarry Before the herd can
recover breath for the second burst
the enemy is close at hand. and at the
moment the start is made is ready to
throw off the eager bird. Slowly, Ia
boriously the eagle seems to mount
into the blue sky; but it is not slow,
either, for already it is darting through
the air with those long, majestic sweeps
which deceive the eye by a scmblance Of
slowness. Still the flying saigas-for
they really seem to hy-have the best of
the race, though as yet it is no race to
them, for they have not seen the eagle.
Now the wish to stop, but now, too, the
tireless bird has gained upon them. An
upward glance-a terrified scattering
heart breaking effort to avoid the
swoop. Too late. With wings folded
close to his body, and talons rigid, the
eagle falls like thunder-bolt on the
particular animal long since selected
from out the herd. A thud-a moan
q culver. Once stricken to the earth,
the saiga makes no attempt to rise, but
lies in helpless terror until the keen
knife of the hunter has brought it death
and peace. -Harper'S Ba:nr.
LOSING A REWARD