Dragolets

Dragolets are about the size of a falcon or a chihuahua, and when trained they sit on the handler’s forearm like falcons. They are covered with very small feathers, and have bat-like wings. They do not have visible ears, and the head resembles a caiman or similar reptile with long, thin jaw. In addition to very sharp fangs, they also have talons, so handlers always wear thick leather gloves.

When bred in captivity they can come in a wide variety of colors, including not only the shades found in the wild (various greens on top sides and light gray underneath) but also blues and yellows.

They don’t breathe fire, but they are carnivores, eating insects, lizards, even small birds and mammals, most of which they catch while flying. They may chase prey to the ground and then pursue it there in half-flying, half-jumping bounds.

Dragolets can memorize several minutes of speech, and fly home or to their mate (if they know where she is, they can’t go anywhere “blind” except home). People commonly take a matched pair, so one bird can always go home, and then fly back again. Longer messages are rolled into cylinders, wrapped in waterproof oilskin, and bound to the dragolet’s leg.

Except when they are repeating or mimicking human speech, they hiss and honk.