XXI. 1889, p. 227) that
there is in China, from the mountains of Manchuria to the mountains of
Tibet, a lynx called by the Chinese T'u-pao (earth-coloured panther);
a lynx somewhat similar to the loup-cervier is found on the western
border of China, and has been named Lyncus Desgodinsi. - H. C.]
Hunting Lynxes were used at the Court of Akbar. They are also mentioned by
A. Hamilton as so used in Sind at the end of the 17th century. This author
calls the animal a Shoe-goose! i.e. Siya-gosh (Black-ear), the Persian
name of the Lynx. It is still occasionally used in the chase by natives of
rank in India. (Brunetto Lat. Tresor, p. 248; Popular Treatises on
Science written during Mid. Ages, 94; Ayeen Akbery, u.s.; Hamilt. E.
Indies, I. 125; Vigne, I. 42.)
NOTE 3. - The conception of a Tiger seems almost to have dropped out of the
European mind during the Middle Ages. Thus in a mediaeval Bestiary, a
chapter on the Tiger begins: "Une Beste est qui est apelee Tigre c'est
une maniere de Serpent." Hence Polo can only call the Tigers, whose
portrait he draws here not incorrectly, Lions. So also nearly 200 years
later Barbaro gives a like portrait, and calls the animal Leonza.
Marsden supposes judiciously that the confusion may have been promoted by
the ambiguity of the Persian Sher.
[Illustration: The Burgut Eagle. (After Atkinson)
"Il a encore aiglies qe sunt afaites a prendre leus et voupes et dain et
chavrion, et en prennent assez."]
The Chinese pilgrim, Sung-Yun (A.D. 518), saw two young lions at the Court
of Gandhara. He remarks that the pictures of these animals common in
China, were not at all good likenesses. (Beal, p. 200.)
We do not hear in modern times of Tigers trained to the chase, but Chardin
says of Persia: "In hunting the larger animals they make use of beasts of
prey trained for the purpose, lions, leopards, tigers, panthers,
ounces."
NOTE 4. - This is perfectly correct. In Eastern Turkestan, and among the
Kirghiz to this day, eagles termed Burgut (now well known to be the
Golden Eagle) are tamed and trained to fly at wolves, foxes, deer, wild
goats, etc. A Kirghiz will give a good horse for an eagle in which he
recognises capacity for training. Mr. Atkinson gives vivid descriptions
and illustrations of this eagle (which he calls "Bear coote"), attacking
both deer and wolves. He represents the bird as striking one claw into the
neck, and the other into the back of its large prey, and then tearing out
the liver with its beak. In justice both to Marco Polo and to Mr.
Atkinson, I have pleasure in adding a vivid account of the exploits of
this bird, as witnessed by one of my kind correspondents, the
Governor-General's late envoy to Kashgar.
