196 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



bottom of the cavity. Many Kestrels, however, make 

 use of a deserted nest of a Crow, a Magpie, a Sparrow- 

 Hawk, or even a Ring-Dove. When a Magpie's nest is 

 chosen, I have invariably found that the lining of roots 

 has been removed. The eggs are usually found resting 

 on or are surrounded by a varying number of pellets of 

 food refuse cast up by the parent Kestrels. The Kestrel 

 is a somewhat close sitter, and when flushed is not very 

 demonstrative unless the eggs are incubated to some 

 extent. Both birds will then fly above the place and 

 chatter mournfully. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement: 

 The eggs of the Kestrel are usually six in number, 

 rarely seven, and sometimes only four or five. They 

 are rotund in shape, and creamy-white in ground colour, 

 washed, spotted, and blotched with reddish-brown. As 

 a rule but little if any of the ground colour is visible. 

 They vary considerably, yet most are richly marked. 

 Rare varieties, however, have most of the colour massed 

 on the larger end ; and some instead of having the 

 brown washed over most of the surface in varying 

 intensity, have it broken up into fairly well defined 

 blotches. Average measurement, i'6 inch in length by 

 r3 inch in breadth. Incubation, performed chiefly by 

 the female, lasts about four weeks. Sometimes the 

 eggs are sat upon as soon as laid, and often two days or 

 more elapse between each successive &^%. 



Diagnostic characters : It is impossible to dis- 

 tinguish the eggs of the Kestrel from those of the Merlin 

 or the Hobby. The situation of the nest as regards the 

 former species will however suffice ; but as regards the 

 latter the most careful identification is required. 



