COMMISSARIAT DEPARTMENT. 61 



revealed the long-concealed runs of the field- 

 mouse (i/its sylvaticus), and where the scattered 

 grain attracts wandering parties of the short- 

 tailed vole {Arvicola agrestis). This, the most 

 destructive of our diminutive quadrupeds, equally 

 injurious to the farmer, the gardener, and the 

 proprietor of young plantations, is now devoured 

 in considerable numbers by the kestrel. With 

 the view of satisfying myself on this point, I have 

 occasionally shot and dissected the bird at this 

 season, when the contents of the stomach re- 

 moved all possibility of doubt. I have also 

 found the harvest mouse {Mus messorius), which, 

 as well as the young of the long-tailed species, is 

 frequently bolted whole by this hawk, after the 

 manner of an owl : but scarcely any kind of 

 large insect or diminutive quadruped comes amiss. 

 It luxuriates in grasshoppers. On one occasion I 

 observed a male kestrel beating a small meadow 

 for nearly an hour, flying much closer to the 

 ground than usual, every now and then dropping 

 down, and occasionally, but not invariably, se- 

 cm'ing something in the grass. On paying still 

 closer attention to his manoeuvres, although I 

 felt convinced that nothing but insects could 

 furnish such an uninterrupted succession of vic- 

 tims, I was still at a loss to discover the particular 

 species to which he seemed so partial I there- 



