The Baz-nama-yi Nasiri

Part 2 — CHAPTER XIII KITES AND HARRIERS

D. C. (Douglas Craven) Phillott translation

Kites [and Harriers].—There are three common species of kites.[134] In the first, the two centre tail-feathers, called by the Arabs ʿamūd,[135] and by Persian and Turkish[136] falconers qāpāq,[137] are shorter than the rest, the outer feathers being longer. The general colouring of the plumage is a dirty brown with dark coloured drops on the breast. The feet are small and the tarsi[138] short.

2nd Species [Marsh Harrier?].—The second species haunts marshes and reedy pools in quest of frogs and rats. In this species the tarsus is long[139] and unfeathered, and the feet are small, ill-looking, and black. There is also a certain amount of white on the head.

3rd Species.—In the third species the general colouring of the plumage—with the exception of the head, which is reddish—is very dark. In habits it resembles the two preceding.

All three species are cowardly and mean-spirited. A good T̤arlān, trained to large quarry, will generally take them.[140]

Should the fork-tailed kite[141] see a sparrow-hawk or merlin with a bird in its feet, it will fuss round it, doing its utmost to steal it from the lucky possessor. If unsuccessful, it returns to its quest of mice and garbage.

These above-described species are related to the eagles. Under this head, too, I have even included the Carrion Vulture[142] and the Scavenger Vulture.[143]

FOOTNOTES:

Notes in this chapter

Note 1 · Chīlāq T. The kite is rare in Persia. It is, however, fairly common near Bushire.Note 2 · ʿAmūd Ar., “a prop, a pillar.”Note 3 · Turk. This word properly includes Turks, Tartars, and all who claim their descent from Turk the son of Japhet. A large proportion of the pop Note 4 · Qāpāq, the “deck-feathers” of old English falconers. According to the Boke of St. Albans the centre or uppermost tail-feather was called the Note 5 · Sāq, properly the shin or shank of a man, animal, or bird. Elsewhere the author, with one other exception, uses the word qalam, “a pen, etc.Note 6 · The Kites have short tarsi, the Harriers, long. In the adult Harriers the iris is yellow, but in the immature birds, of several species at a Note 7 · Haggard Sakers will generally fly at harriers, refusing to give up the chase and so getting lost. A haggard peregrine I had killed a harrier Note 8 · Chīlāq-i qāpāq-i kūtāh.Note 9 · Dāl; elsewhere dāl-i murdār-k͟hur.Note 10 · Kachal charkas; the Egyptian Vulture: kachal means “scald-headed;” charkas is corrupted form of karkas, a common term for a vulture. The Egy