CHAPTER XVTHE RAVEN
Raven.—The Raven,[147]though a carrion feeder, has just claims to be considered a Bird of Prey. I recollect once seeing a raven in thejungle seize a wildchukor; I eventually succeeded in releasing the bird from its clutches.
It is a peculiarity of the Raven that if it is deprived of sight by having its eyeballs pierced with a needle, it may, by confinement in darkness for the space of twenty-four hours, be completely restored to sight.
InʿArabistānit is caught in traps and trained for fowling in the same manner that the Kestril[148]is trained in theDashtistān[149]ofFārs, and the eagle-owl inKirmānshāh[150]and elsewhere.
FOOTNOTES:[146]Some thirty odd years ago theshikraused to be trained in the Kapurthala State to take the Egyptian Vulture. The youngshikrawas entered by being fed on a live vulture with seeled eyes, meat being tied on the back or head. The Egyptian Vulture is slow in taking flight, and when on the ground will let a man approach to within a few feet of it. The falconer,shikrain hand, has only to walk up to within a few feet of the unsuspecting vulture while it is resting on the ground, throw theshikra, and secure the quarry before it has even got so far as to spread its wings for flight. It is probably this “flight” that is referred to by old travellers who state that theshikrais flown at eagles. The Egyptian Vulture is also a quarry easily taken by a trained lynx. The lynx simply bounds quietly and quickly up to it, and springs as the vulture prepares to spread its wings. Partridges and such quarry are, however, scientifically stalked by it.[147]Kulāg͟h-i siyāh-i quzqūn.I once saw a pair of ravens harassing a wild hare by pulling tufts of hair and skin out of it. Had I not interfered they would have killed it. Wild ravens in India will chase house-pigeons and occasionally enter the dovecot and kill them.
[146]Some thirty odd years ago theshikraused to be trained in the Kapurthala State to take the Egyptian Vulture. The youngshikrawas entered by being fed on a live vulture with seeled eyes, meat being tied on the back or head. The Egyptian Vulture is slow in taking flight, and when on the ground will let a man approach to within a few feet of it. The falconer,shikrain hand, has only to walk up to within a few feet of the unsuspecting vulture while it is resting on the ground, throw theshikra, and secure the quarry before it has even got so far as to spread its wings for flight. It is probably this “flight” that is referred to by old travellers who state that theshikrais flown at eagles. The Egyptian Vulture is also a quarry easily taken by a trained lynx. The lynx simply bounds quietly and quickly up to it, and springs as the vulture prepares to spread its wings. Partridges and such quarry are, however, scientifically stalked by it.
[146]Some thirty odd years ago theshikraused to be trained in the Kapurthala State to take the Egyptian Vulture. The youngshikrawas entered by being fed on a live vulture with seeled eyes, meat being tied on the back or head. The Egyptian Vulture is slow in taking flight, and when on the ground will let a man approach to within a few feet of it. The falconer,shikrain hand, has only to walk up to within a few feet of the unsuspecting vulture while it is resting on the ground, throw theshikra, and secure the quarry before it has even got so far as to spread its wings for flight. It is probably this “flight” that is referred to by old travellers who state that theshikrais flown at eagles. The Egyptian Vulture is also a quarry easily taken by a trained lynx. The lynx simply bounds quietly and quickly up to it, and springs as the vulture prepares to spread its wings. Partridges and such quarry are, however, scientifically stalked by it.
[147]Kulāg͟h-i siyāh-i quzqūn.I once saw a pair of ravens harassing a wild hare by pulling tufts of hair and skin out of it. Had I not interfered they would have killed it. Wild ravens in India will chase house-pigeons and occasionally enter the dovecot and kill them.
[147]Kulāg͟h-i siyāh-i quzqūn.I once saw a pair of ravens harassing a wild hare by pulling tufts of hair and skin out of it. Had I not interfered they would have killed it. Wild ravens in India will chase house-pigeons and occasionally enter the dovecot and kill them.