84 



THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 



By ptrmisiion of Pern Lci^h Pemhrten, Esq. 



PEREGRINE FALCON 



-A faljourite tn Jalccnry 



beauty, and at one time were much in request by 

 falconers, probably largely on account of their 

 appearance, for they lack the power and spirit of 

 the peregrine. Clrey and black and white and 

 black are distinctive colours of the various 

 species, which are inhabitants of northern 

 regions. 



The Kestrel, or \\'ixd-iiover, is one of 

 the commonest birds of prey, much and most 

 unjustly persecuted by gamekeepers. Like the 

 peregrine falcon, the kestrel does not build a 

 nest, but takes possession of the deserted nests 

 (if crows and magpies, or deposits its eggs on the 

 bare earth of a recess in some cliff or quarry 

 which is overhung b}' a projecting shelf of rock. 

 (Jccasionally a hole in a tree is chosen, the eggs 

 then resting on the rotten wood at the bottom. 

 That the kestrel is of a more confiding disposi- 

 tion than the majority of its tribe seems to be 

 proved by the fact that it will often deposit its 

 eggs in nesting-boxes, if these are placed in suit- 

 able spots. 



The food of the kestrel appears to consist 

 niainl)- of mice, but frogs, earthworms, grass- 

 hoppers, cockchafers, and other beetles are also 

 taken. Kestrels will also eat dead animals, as 



is proved by the fact that they 

 are not seldom found dead 

 from eating poisoned rats laid 

 out for magpies. One in- 

 stance is on record where a 

 kestrel was taken with its 

 claws entangled in the fur of 

 a stoat, which fiercely de- 

 fended itself. 



Of the Pygmy Falcons 

 there are several species, 

 ranging from the eastern 

 Himalaya, through Tenas- 

 serim and Burma, to the 

 Malay Islands and the I'hil- 

 ippines. The smallest is the 

 Red-legged F,\lconet of 

 Nepal, Sikhim, and Burma. 

 It feeds largely u])on insects, 

 such as dragon-flies, beetles, 

 and butterflies, hawking them 

 with a swallow-like speed. 

 f)ccasionally the members of 

 this little group are said to 



, b; On 



SPECTACLED OWL 



j4 South American bird ivith a iomeiv bat remarkable coloration 



[B,rU^ 



