The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1 by Marco Polo and da Pisa Rusticiano

[See _A. David et Oustalet_, _Oiseaux de la Chine_, 389, on _Syrrhaptes Pallasii_ or _Syrrhaptes Paradoxus_.—H. C.] [Illustration: Syrrhaptes Pallasii.] NOTE 4.—Gerfalcons (_Shonḳár_) were objects of high estimation in the Middle Ages, and were frequent presents to and from royal personages. Thus among the presents sent with an embassy from King James II. of Aragon to the Sultan of Egypt, in 1314, we find three white gerfalcons. They were sent in homage to Chinghiz and to Kúblái, by the Kirghiz, but I cannot identify the mountains where they or the Peregrines were found. The Peregrine falcon was in Europe sometimes termed _Faucon Tartare_. (See _Ménage_ s.v. _Sahin_.) The Peregrine of Northern Japan, and probably therefore that of Siberia, is identical with that of Europe. Witsen speaks of an island in the Sea of Tartary, from which falcons were got, apparently referring to a Chinese map as his authority; but I know nothing more of it. (_Capmany_, IV. 64–65; _Ibis_, 1862, p. 314; _Witsen_, II. 656.) [On the _Falco peregrinus_, Lin., and other Falcons, see Ed. Blanc’s paper mentioned on p. 162. The _Falco Saker_ is to be found all over Central Asia; it is called by the Pekingese _Hwang-yng_ (yellow falcon). (_David et Oustalet_, _Oiseaux de la Chine_, 31–32.)—H. C.]