The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1910-11-11

ODSeTNanJ CTltlC III iUOkiHB u
an Algerian falconer. either In
bodily shape or as depicted in
the accompanying illustration.
is his choice OF the left hand as
perch for his trained hawks. In this
respect he resembles, of course, Euro
pean professors of the art, and also the
Japanese, whereas the Mahometars,
as well as others. in British India, al
ways carry their falcons on the right
fist 1t will be noticed also that the
glove differs considerably from that
which 10 worn In England. Not
only Is the gauntlet much longer,
reaching more than half way to the
elbow, but 1t fits much more tightly
| to the bare arm. so that no coat sleeve,
and hardly even shirt, could be
worn underneath II. This form OF
glove is undoubtedly preferred by
reason OF the habitual practise OF
! North African falconers of carrying
| two and more hawks at the same time
to the field without using cadge as
we do. When the left fist. and pos
| sibly the left wrist also. is occupied
by a hawk or hawks. the place next
chosen for a perch is the head, or the
turban surrounding It; and third, or
even a fourth, hawk may then well
be accommodated on the right shout
der. All these aforementioned hawks
would, of course, be hooded; but &C.
easionally the one occupying the place
of honor on the fist will be unhooded
ready for flight. even while the head
and shoulders are still tenanted by
other hawks waiting their turn for
the fray. The African falconer seems
to hold his fist higher when carrying
his hawk than the European. And the
difference may perhaps be accounted
for by the fact that In the head.dress
Of the former there Is no hard sur
face which. like the hat of the Eu
ropean. might cause the breakage OF q
feather.tip when the hawk happened
to bate suddenly. For practical pur
poses, at least when the hawk In I'M
hooded and on the lookout for tbs
quarry. no doubt the higher she II
held the better. And. indeed. even II
Europe. merlins are sometimes car
ried on a fist held as high az thu
shoulder SO as to give them bettel
start in the arduous ringing flights
! which they are often called upon Il
; attempt.
The quarry which is most often pur
r sued In Algeria is the hare. And thu
, hawk employed in the pursuit is in
y variahly the saker. This fine faicol
!. resembles nearly In size and measure
D ments the smaller OF the ger-falcons
Z although In Its coloring and In the sig
i of the feet there Is a great difference
: For each of these-the ger and tn
0 saker-the proper quarry. II regard 1
had 10 mere sport and not to the pot
d or the bag" Is the kite. And for thi
!. flight the Arabs, as well as the Pei
I SLAMS and Indians and other orientals
q prepare the saker. not only by a lon
Z course Of special training. but by
Z process of .physicking." which ha
: been found in the course Of centurie
!: not only effectual. but also In man
o cases indispensable. The drugs az
o ministersd by the trainer shortly b.
o fore the falcon is to be flown Undue
J. i'm her an artificial hunger Of q ravel
% GUS kind. and thus impel her to stal
J. In pursuit of a quarry which 10 ofte
B. not only excessively swift and cleve
= on the wing. such as kite. but ais
at four-footed animals, which on
would think were far too strong an
heavy to be even attacked By SO con
o paratiyely small a bird. Thus. variou
. kinds Of gazelles and deer are take
by the trained saker. although In th
. Wild state 1t Is hardly conceivable ths
they should attempt to cope wit
o them. m these cases the falcon. q
falcons-for two. or even more. M