The art and practice of hawking - Modern Prepper

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THE BIRDS USED IN HAWKING 37
other contretemps, that she will attack the men of the party, and
perhaps have a flight at a native just by way of a relief to her
outraged feelings.
Eagles are carried to and in the field on a crutch, which is
formed of an upright pole with a cross-bar at the top, the lower
end of the apparatus being fitted into the saddle, and the staff
of it attached by a strap to the rider's girdle. The lure, to
which they are called when they do not come back to the
crutch, consists of the stuffed skin of an animal made to
resemble the quarry at which they are meant to fly.
The following are the eagles best fitted for training :
Golden Eagle {Aquila chrysaetus)
Female—Length, about 35 inches; wing, about 27^; tail,
about 14; tarsus, -^.^. Male—Length, about 32 inches; wing,
24i; tail, 13 ;
tarsus, ^.J.
The plumage is generally of a ruddy brown or fawn, inclining
in parts to dark brown, and in others to dull brownish gold.
Adult females become very dark, and males also assume a more
dusky hue as they grow older.
Of the fact that the golden eagle is now and has been for
centuries commonly trained and flown in Central Asia there is
no manner of doubt. Many excellent authorities maintain that
it is the species used by the Kirghis and other tribes subject or
tributary to Russia under the name of Kholsan. This was
also the opinion of M. Paul Gervais, who became the owner of a
veritable Kholsan, imported into France by M. Maichin, who
purchased it from the Kirghis for ^40 and a gun. This trained
eagle, which was a female, would take foxes well, and after
binding to them was accustomed to grip them by the fore part
of the mask, thus obviating the chance of a dangerous bite. In
Central Asia the Kholsan is flown at bustard, hare, fox, and
antelope ; and the females will tackle such heavy quarry as wild
goat, wolf, and even wild boar.
Berkute {AquiUi nohilis)
About the identity of this species there is even more doubt
than about the Kholsan. Mr. Harting inclines to the view
that it is no more than a golden eagle in a different phase of its
plumage. Others suppose that it is the imperial eagle, and