CHAPTER XXVITHE SHRIKE
Amongstthe “black-eyed” birds of prey must be classed a small sparrow-like bird, grey and black in colouring. In the Kurdish language it is calledbāzūrī, and in Persianālā güzkina.[300]In size it is somewhat larger than a sparrow: the wings are dark: the eyes have a dark line of antimony:[301]the claws and beak are black, sharp, and powerful. When trained, it kills with ease sparrows and the smalltisks[302]found in the wheat and barley, in Spring. It also comes well to the lure from a distance.
There are two species. One grey and black with the antimony line under the eyes, and one yellowish. The former is decidedly the better.[303]
FOOTNOTES:[300]This is Turkish, not Persian. Persian Turks call the shrikeālā güzinaalso. In Shaw’s Turki Vocabulary (Appendix by Scully),Lanius Homeyeri, the Grey Shrike, is said to be calledālā g͟hurālāi, andLanius arenarius, the Desert Shrike,boz̤ g͟hurālāi. The wordālāin Turki means “variegated” or “spotted.” InLahore to Yarkand(page 182) the Brown Shrike,Lanius Cristatus, is said to be calleduruliain Turki.[301]Surma kashīda; antimony is applied by means of a needle to an Eastern’s eye, underneath the lashes of the under lids, and to the outer corners of the eyes.[302]Tiskmay be the Short-toed or Social Lark. In Shiraz, however,tiskis the name of a warbler like a white-throat, called in Kirmanturnusk, and alsobarādar-i bulbul, “the nightingale’s brother.”Siskandtirniskare names that are probably both applied to the same warbler.[303]The Indian Grey Shrike (Lanius lahtora), called in the Derajatlaṭorāandmamālā, used to be trained in Dera Ismail Khan to catch small birds. A smaller species calledmamālī—probably the Rufous-backed Shrike, theharwājīof Kashmir (Lanius erythronotus)—does not appear to have been trained. Of the former Jerdon writes:—“Mr. Philipps states that he has seen it capture small birds; and that in the North-West, it is occasionally trained to do so. He also relates that it is sometimes picketed to the ground, closely attached to a starling, the neighbouring bushes, twigs, etc., being well smeared with bird-lime. All sorts of birds come to witness the supposed fight and to separate the combatants, and many are captured by the limed branches.”
[300]This is Turkish, not Persian. Persian Turks call the shrikeālā güzinaalso. In Shaw’s Turki Vocabulary (Appendix by Scully),Lanius Homeyeri, the Grey Shrike, is said to be calledālā g͟hurālāi, andLanius arenarius, the Desert Shrike,boz̤ g͟hurālāi. The wordālāin Turki means “variegated” or “spotted.” InLahore to Yarkand(page 182) the Brown Shrike,Lanius Cristatus, is said to be calleduruliain Turki.
[300]This is Turkish, not Persian. Persian Turks call the shrikeālā güzinaalso. In Shaw’s Turki Vocabulary (Appendix by Scully),Lanius Homeyeri, the Grey Shrike, is said to be calledālā g͟hurālāi, andLanius arenarius, the Desert Shrike,boz̤ g͟hurālāi. The wordālāin Turki means “variegated” or “spotted.” InLahore to Yarkand(page 182) the Brown Shrike,Lanius Cristatus, is said to be calleduruliain Turki.
[301]Surma kashīda; antimony is applied by means of a needle to an Eastern’s eye, underneath the lashes of the under lids, and to the outer corners of the eyes.
[301]Surma kashīda; antimony is applied by means of a needle to an Eastern’s eye, underneath the lashes of the under lids, and to the outer corners of the eyes.
[302]Tiskmay be the Short-toed or Social Lark. In Shiraz, however,tiskis the name of a warbler like a white-throat, called in Kirmanturnusk, and alsobarādar-i bulbul, “the nightingale’s brother.”Siskandtirniskare names that are probably both applied to the same warbler.
[302]Tiskmay be the Short-toed or Social Lark. In Shiraz, however,tiskis the name of a warbler like a white-throat, called in Kirmanturnusk, and alsobarādar-i bulbul, “the nightingale’s brother.”Siskandtirniskare names that are probably both applied to the same warbler.
[303]The Indian Grey Shrike (Lanius lahtora), called in the Derajatlaṭorāandmamālā, used to be trained in Dera Ismail Khan to catch small birds. A smaller species calledmamālī—probably the Rufous-backed Shrike, theharwājīof Kashmir (Lanius erythronotus)—does not appear to have been trained. Of the former Jerdon writes:—“Mr. Philipps states that he has seen it capture small birds; and that in the North-West, it is occasionally trained to do so. He also relates that it is sometimes picketed to the ground, closely attached to a starling, the neighbouring bushes, twigs, etc., being well smeared with bird-lime. All sorts of birds come to witness the supposed fight and to separate the combatants, and many are captured by the limed branches.”
[303]The Indian Grey Shrike (Lanius lahtora), called in the Derajatlaṭorāandmamālā, used to be trained in Dera Ismail Khan to catch small birds. A smaller species calledmamālī—probably the Rufous-backed Shrike, theharwājīof Kashmir (Lanius erythronotus)—does not appear to have been trained. Of the former Jerdon writes:—“Mr. Philipps states that he has seen it capture small birds; and that in the North-West, it is occasionally trained to do so. He also relates that it is sometimes picketed to the ground, closely attached to a starling, the neighbouring bushes, twigs, etc., being well smeared with bird-lime. All sorts of birds come to witness the supposed fight and to separate the combatants, and many are captured by the limed branches.”