CHAPTER VIII

OTHER SPECIES OF OWLS

[SHORT-EARED OWL; LONG-EARED OWL.—The author now imperfectly describes five or six species of owl, which the translator is unable with any certainty to identify. The first species mentioned by him is the _Yāplāg͟h_ or _Yāplāq_, and this species he again divides into two sub-species or races, viz., the “Desert or Plain _Yāplāq_,” and the “Garden or Grove _Yāplāq_.” The colour of the latter is said to be somewhat darker than that of the former. The first species is probably the Short-eared Owl (_Otus brachyotus_); while the second is probably either the Common Long-eared Owl (_Otus vulgaris_), or the Tawny Wood-Owl. The author also states that the former species, once it has successfully shifted from the first stoop of the falcon and has begun to “tower,”[96] is an exceedingly difficult quarry, and that only a passage _Shāhīn_ or Peregrine is equal to the flight, the Saker not being swift enough.[97] The latter species of owl, he adds, is a poor performer and unable to “ring up”[96] to any great distance without being overtaken and killed.

INDIAN GRASS-OWL.—The Short-eared Owl is, however, an easier quarry than the Indian Grass-Owl (_Strix candida_), which in India is taken both with Sakers and Peregrines. If, however, the Saker is not in high condition (in much higher condition than it is usually kept by natives of India), both hawk and quarry will soon be lost to view, ringing up, on a calm day completely out of sight and almost perpendicularly into the sky. In this species the iris is dark; it is therefore presumed that neither it nor any nearly allied species can be included under the name _yāplāq_.

Indian falconers, however, in the Panjab, have only one name for both the Short-eared and the Grass-Owl.

Afghan falconers state that, in their country, the Short-eared Owl is a common quarry for the Saker, as well as for the Peregrine.

The author continues:]—

BRIDE OF THE WELL.—The next species of owl is smaller than the _Yāplāq_, and is hornless. Its prevailing colour is a yellowish white, something like that of the _Tīqūn_ Goshawk. This species is especially common in Baghdad and other sacred places.[98] It is known to the Arabs by the name of the “Bride of the Well.”[99] It preys principally on the pigeons of the “Sacred Precincts;”[100] for that cuckoldy pimp, lacking regard and consideration, has settled that the pigeons of the precincts[100] are its proper prey, so it hunts them in the night-watches. In the Spring the attendants pull out the young owls from their holes in the walls, or from the interiors of the domes, and slay them. This species is smaller than the _Yāplāq_.

LITTLE OWL (_Spotted owlet?_).—[The author next mentions a small owl that he styles _Bāya-qūsh_ or _Chug͟hd_. In the Panjab, the spotted owlet (_Athene Brama_) is known by the latter name.[101] The author says of this species:]—It frequents old ruins. A young _shāhīn_, intended for the flight of the stone-plover, should first be given two or three pigeons from the hand, and then flown at a wild _chug͟hd_ or two. After that it may be entered to stone-plover. The _chug͟hd_ is useful for no other purpose but this.

“BIRD OF NIGHT-MELODY”[102] OR “BIRD OF TESTIMONY.”[103]—The next species we come to is the “Bird of Night-melody,”[102] better known under its popular name of “The Bird of Testimony.”[103] The male of this beautifully marked little owlet is scarcely larger than a lark.[104]

All the above species of owl are strictly nocturnal in their habits.

Too whit, too whoo! The helpless owl, In evening shades alone can prowl; To find its food, to chase its prey, ’Tis helpless quite in light of day.

FOOTNOTES:

[95] The following description of owling is taken from Blaine’s _Encyclopedia of Rural Sports_. It is stated there that any owl may be used, but that the great horned owl is the usual bait:—“The owl, confined between two wooden stands or rests, is taught to fly from one rest to the other without touching the ground. Between the rests, a cord is stretched, on which a ring plays, and to which another slacker cord is attached by one end, the other being fastened to the jesses on the legs of the owl, whose movements are thus confined to flying from one block or rest to the other. To this change of posture he is accustomed by presenting him with food on the opposite side to that on which he may happen to be resting, until he becomes completely habituated to this method of exercising himself. A saloon is now formed in the midst of a copse, of boughs, in the centre of which a log or stand rests, and without the saloon a similar one is placed about a hundred paces distant, the intermediate space on which the owl is placed being cleared away. It is necessary that the top and sides of this saloon should be covered with boughs in such a manner that although the outside is distinctly seen there is no opening that will admit any bird to enter with unfolded wings. Nets are placed against the top and sides, leaving open that part only opposite to the resting place of the owl. The fowler, now concealing himself, keeps watch, and when he observes the owl lower his head and turn it on one side, he becomes certain that some bird of prey is in the air. The hawk, now marking the owl for his own, follows him into his retreat; when, becoming hampered in the meshes of the net, he is easily secured.” _Vide_ also _History of Fowling_, by the Rev. H. A. Macpherson: Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1896.

[96] “‘Tower;’ ‘ring up;’ to rise spirally to a height.”—_Harting._

[97] The Indian grass-owl, _Strix candida_, though a much more difficult quarry than the short-eared owl, can be successfully flown by a trained saker, provided the latter is in high condition: a saker is not fit for this flight unless she weighs _at least_ 2 lbs. 4 oz., better 2 lbs. 6 oz.

[98] Such as Kāz̤imayn, Najaf, Karbalā, etc.

[99] _ʿArūs-i chāh_; _ʿarūs_ is the Arabic for “bride,” but _chāh_, “well,” is Persian.

[100] _Ḥarām_: the sacred precincts round both Mecca and Medina are known as _ḥarām_, and certain acts such as slaying game are forbidden within the boundaries. _Ḥarām_ is also a name for the women’s apartments. The author by _ḥarām_ probably means the sacred precincts of Mecca, but from the context his meaning is not clear.

[101] In the Derajat this owlet, called there _chhapākī_, is a quarry for the _shikra_, and also for the common and the red-headed merlin. Its blood is supposed to be a cure for prickly heat, hence its local name. (_Chhapākī_ is a corruption of _shapākī_, “prickly heat”.) In some parts of India it is used as a decoy for small birds.

[102] _Murg͟h-i shab-āhang._

[103] _Murg͟h-i Ḥaqq._ _Ḥaqq_ means the “Truth” or “God.” This little owl, which is probably the Persian owlet (_Athene Persica_), is reverenced by Muhammadans: it clings to walls and cries “_Ḥaqq, Ḥaqq_,” after the manner of the dervishes.

[104] _Kākulī._ Elsewhere the author states that the Arabs call this lark _quṃburah_, which is an Arab name for the Crested Lark (_Alauda cristata_).