CHAPTER XXIIITHE HOBBY[273]
Thehobby resembles the merlin somewhat, but is larger, darker in colouring, and prettier in appearance. It has long broad wings, dark in colouring. Its feet are small and yellow. In a wild state it kills larks and such-like small quarry, hunting well, like the merlin, but it is evil-natured and cowardly.[274]In theShamīrānātand inMāzandarān[275]it nests in the gardens.[276]Nestlings, however, are useless. The female is about the size of a shahin tiercel. It can be trained, but with much trouble. You can, however, train one easily to fly in company with a merlin, and make it kill by means of the merlin’s assistance. More than this is not to be expected of it.[277]If, as I say, you get a fine female passage falcon, call it to the lure and fly it at “trains” and wild quarry, in company with a merlin, but never bother yourself with an eyess.
FOOTNOTES:[273]Layl, “The Hobby.”[274]A hobby is too cowardly to be caught by a common quail as a bait. I have frequently tried and failed, but on substituting a sparrow have succeeded instantly. Lieut.-Colonel E. Delmé Radcliffe in his pamphlet on Falconry states that the European Hobby is sometimes trained in India and flown at the Hoopoe and the male at the Diongo-Shrike or “King-crow.” I have, however, never met with any Panjabī falconer who had heard of one being trained with success.[275]ForShamīrānāt,videnote169, page 40. Mazenderan is a province on the south coast of the Caspian.[276]In the desert, thebag͟hsor “gardens” are the only places where there are tall trees.[277]The hobby is not trained in the Panjab. In Albin’sNatural History of Birds(pub. 1738) it is stated that “The Fowlers, to catch these Hawks, take a Lark and having blinded her and fastened Lime-twigs to her legs, let her fly where they see the Hobby is, which striking at the Lark is entangled with the Lime-twigs.”
[273]Layl, “The Hobby.”
[273]Layl, “The Hobby.”
[274]A hobby is too cowardly to be caught by a common quail as a bait. I have frequently tried and failed, but on substituting a sparrow have succeeded instantly. Lieut.-Colonel E. Delmé Radcliffe in his pamphlet on Falconry states that the European Hobby is sometimes trained in India and flown at the Hoopoe and the male at the Diongo-Shrike or “King-crow.” I have, however, never met with any Panjabī falconer who had heard of one being trained with success.
[274]A hobby is too cowardly to be caught by a common quail as a bait. I have frequently tried and failed, but on substituting a sparrow have succeeded instantly. Lieut.-Colonel E. Delmé Radcliffe in his pamphlet on Falconry states that the European Hobby is sometimes trained in India and flown at the Hoopoe and the male at the Diongo-Shrike or “King-crow.” I have, however, never met with any Panjabī falconer who had heard of one being trained with success.
[275]ForShamīrānāt,videnote169, page 40. Mazenderan is a province on the south coast of the Caspian.
[275]ForShamīrānāt,videnote169, page 40. Mazenderan is a province on the south coast of the Caspian.
[276]In the desert, thebag͟hsor “gardens” are the only places where there are tall trees.
[276]In the desert, thebag͟hsor “gardens” are the only places where there are tall trees.
[277]The hobby is not trained in the Panjab. In Albin’sNatural History of Birds(pub. 1738) it is stated that “The Fowlers, to catch these Hawks, take a Lark and having blinded her and fastened Lime-twigs to her legs, let her fly where they see the Hobby is, which striking at the Lark is entangled with the Lime-twigs.”
[277]The hobby is not trained in the Panjab. In Albin’sNatural History of Birds(pub. 1738) it is stated that “The Fowlers, to catch these Hawks, take a Lark and having blinded her and fastened Lime-twigs to her legs, let her fly where they see the Hobby is, which striking at the Lark is entangled with the Lime-twigs.”