In the months of _May_ and _June_ great numbers of a bird, called by the natives _kata_ (which are also to be met with at all seasons, though not in so great plenty), are brought to market, and much ate by them; but their flesh is so black, hard, and dry, that the _Europeans_ never touch them. As this bird has not as yet been described, a figure and description of it are annexed[355]. Other game in the neighbourhood are, the bustard[356] of two kinds; red-legg’d partridge[357]; frankolin[358], the flesh of which is delicious, but this bird is not to be met with at less than a day’s journey from the city; common sky-lark[359], wood-lark[360], crested lark[361], calandra[362]; hortulanes[363], and citrils[364], chiefly ate by the _French_; snipe[365], gird or jack snipe[366], song-thrush[367], wind-thrush[368], turtle-dove[369]; a brown-coloured dove, which builds in the windows, _&c._ of the houses in the city; and another much like it, only speckled on the neck and pinions, which is very common when the corn is ripe, but disappears as soon as that is reaped; wild pigeon, wood pigeon[370]. They have also variety of tame pigeons, and particularly the carrier[371], formerly made use of by the _Europeans_ for conveying expeditiously the news of a ship’s arrival at _Scanderoon_; but this practice has been disused for many years. The pigeon thus employed was one that had young at _Aleppo_. Upon enquiring into their method of training them, some asserted, that they were sent down to _Scanderoon_ in an open cage, and, as soon as let go there, would fly directly to _Aleppo_. But I am more apt to believe what others affirmed, that the bird was brought to this by first letting it return from shorter distances on the _Scanderoon_ road. All agree, that if the pigeon had been a fortnight at _Scanderoon_, it was not afterwards to be trusted to fly back, lest it should have forgot its young, and consequently not be so eager to get home. A small piece of paper, with the ship’s name, day of arrival, and what else material could be contained in a very narrow compass, was fixed so as to be under the wing, to prevent its being destroyed by wet. They also used to bathe their feet in vinegar, with a view to keeping them cool, so as they might not settle to drink or wash themselves, which would have destroyed the paper. And I have heard an _English_ gentleman, who remembered that practice, say, that he has known them arrive in two hours and an half. Shooting, as a sport, is rarely followed by any of the natives, though many practise it to gain a livelihood; but the diversions of coursing and hawking are in great esteem among the people of fashion. They have both in great perfection; but the latter exceeds any thing of the kind that I have ever met with. The falcons bred for taking hares and antelopes are the _Baraban_ and _Sefy_, both large falcons; and, though caught wild, they train them in a few days to fly at their prey.