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Ready for the Chase

HE natives of Persia are adepts | nations have the same practices as some at hunting, and exhibit remark- of the western. This Persian Falconer is able skill and enthusiasm in the the type of a bold, agile class of men, chase. We present a very spir- fearless of danger, who find their highest ited illustration, quite characteristic of enjoyment in the field, behind the dogs, Persian life, in which a Falconer is seen and rushing on to overtake the game. mounted on his steed. He has a horse Notice the Falcon perched on the finger that he may well be proud of, and the of the rider. It belongs to a class of animal seems, from his appearance, to be birds that are very spirited and highproud of himself. He is a strong, spir- tempered. ited, muscular steed, with high head, The bill is hooked; and is furnished at flashing eye, and is one of those animals the base with a naked membraneous skin. which call out so much admiration and The head and neck are thickly beset with affection from their masters; a fondness feathers. The nostrils are small, and the which is one of the peculiar features of tongue is broad, fleshy and generally cleft the Oriental character. The engraving at the end. The legs and feet are strong, represents him as fully caparisoned, muscular and scaly; and the large, hooked ornamented in fine fashion, and eager for the pursuit. and very sharp claws are well calculated for taking prey. The middle toe is connected to the outermost by a strong membrane, and the claw of the outer toe is smaller than that of any of the others.

The Falcon belongs to an excessively rapacious tribe of birds. They prey alto- The rider carries the hawk on his hand, and is accompanied by two hunting-dogs, whose leanness would indicate that no beast of the desert could be more swift.

The whole group of figures is remarkably striking, and shows the attractive gether on animal food; yet they seldom features of wild sports in Central Asia. feed on carrion, except when driven to it In the use of the hawk for the chase, it by necessity. They are able to sustain will be noticed that these old eastern hunger for a very great length of time; often taking in as much food at once, as | They never associate; an an 1, except dur will last them for several days without a ing the breeding season, even two of them are seldom seen together. They are extremely quick sighted, and soar to amaz ing heights in the air. When they discern their prey they dart upon it with the swiftness of an arrow; and their strength is SO great, that some of them have been known to carry to their offspring a load nearly as heavy as themselves, and from a distance of forty miles and upwards.

Hawking was faformerly a mous English sport. Old Hall relates that Henry VIII, on one occasion, nearly lost his life when engaged in hawking. It was the custom, not only to cast off the Falcon and follow