Page 348 - Travels in Arabis (Vol I)

XIX.] TRAVELS IN OMAN. 309

shooting. .Directly the bird falls the sports­
man runs up, and cuts his throat. If a suffi­

ciency of blood does not flow from the wound,
it is pronounced unfit for food. Eagles breed
amidst the mountains, and three varieties of

vulture are found on the plains. A great
abundance and variety of sea-fowl frequent

the sea-coast: of these the most common are
the laughing sea-gull (Ridibundus), the noddy
(Stolida), red-throated diver (Septentrionalis),

the white spoon-bill (Leucorodia), the Indian
crane (Antigone). The whole line of coast
abounds in fish, but as they are, with one or

two exceptions, the same as those of India, I
forbear to enumerate them. Maskat is often

visited by a large grampus, which our sailors
call the Maskat Tom, and the Arabs Obey.
It sometimes capsizes their boats, and plays,

according to their report, other mischievous
pranks, but I have never heard of its commit­

ting any serious injury.
Maskat Cove some years ago was so abun­
dantly filled with the small fish called sar-

dinas in the Mediterranean, that they might
be obtained in any quantity, and a great

number were preserved and exported; but