CHAPTER I
ON THE SHORT-WINGED HAWKS USED IN FALCONRY
The Birds of Prey are divided into two great divisions, the “Yellow-eyed” and the “Black-eyed,” these being again sub-divided into numerous species.
We will first treat of the Yellow-eyed Division.
[Illustration: III
PERSIAN CARPET DEPICTING HAWKING SCENE]
_T̤ug͟hral_ [CRESTED GOSHAWK?]—The first species worthy of note is the _T̤ug͟hral_.[27] During my many wanderings I have searched diligently for this species, but in vain, and am, therefore, unable to describe it from personal knowledge. There is a current tradition, that a single specimen was once brought to Persia from China,[28] and presented as a curiosity to King _Bahrām-i Gūr_,[29] who treasured it greatly and guarded it jealously. One sad day, when the king was out hawking, the _t̤ug͟hral_ suddenly took to “soaring” and was quickly lost to the sight of the disconsolate monarch. His retinue were soon scattered in every direction in search of the missing hawk, and the king was left almost alone, being attended by a few only of the royal favourites. _Bahrām-i Gūr_ and his party also took up the search; and wandering far and wide, at length happened on a large and shady garden, where they alighted. The bewildered owner of the garden advanced exclaiming:—
“The simple peasant on whose ‘_kulāhed_’[30] head The Sultan, Phoebus-like, his grandeur shed, Trembles within his soul and well nigh dies, That on him shines the Sultan’s kindly eyes.”
On being questioned about the lost hawk he replied, “What a _T̤ug͟hral_ may be, I know not, but not two hours since a hawk with bells and a jewelled ‘halsband,’[31] took stand in a tree of this very garden; but taking fright at my attempt to secure it, it flew off and settled in that grove yonder.” Bahrām was overjoyed at this clue, which enabled him to recover his lost favourite.[32]
From this reference to a “halsband” and bells, and to the _t̤ug͟hral_’s habit of sitting on trees, the author concludes that this unknown species belongs to the yellow-eyed division of the birds of prey.
FOOTNOTES:
[27] _T̤ug͟hral_; a species frequently mentioned in old Persian MSS. on falconry. It is probably the “Crested Goshawk” (_Astur trivirgatus_) which is said to have been formerly trained in India. Jerdon, quoting Layard, says it is trained in Ceylon. The _T̤ug͟hral_ is confused by Indian falconers with the _Shāh-bāz_, or “Royal Goshawk” which, according to Jerdon, is the name given by native falconers of Southern India to the Crested Hawk-Eagle (_Limnætus cristatellus_). The same author also quotes Major Pearse as his informant that the Rufous-bellied Hawk-Eagle (_L. kienierii_) is, “Very rarely procured from the N.W. Himalayas and trained for hunting and is known as the _Shāh-bāz_.”
[28] _Chīn_; under this name are included Yarkand, Khutan, Mongolia, Manchuria, etc.
[29] _Bahrām_ was surnamed _Gūr_, from his passion for hunting the _gūr_ or wild ass. He belonged to the Sassanian dynasty of Persian kings and his name frequently occurs in Persian poetry. The Greek Varanes is said to be a corruption of _Bahrām_.