302 THE BIRDS OF KENT 



KESTKEL. 



Tinnunculus tinnunculus (Linnaeus). S.N., i., 

 p. 127 (1766). 



Windsucker, Windbibber, Wind-hover. 



The well-known Kestrel is distributed sparingly 

 throughout the county, and breeds in all the most 

 suitable localities. 



The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, writing in 1844, 

 states that " the Kestrel is the commonest of all the 

 Hawk tribe which we have in Kent, and is known 

 commonly by the name of AVind-hover, from the extra- 

 ordinary power it possesses of poising itself in mid-air, 

 and during very high winds ; from whence also, in some 

 counties, it is called ' Stannel ' or ' Stand Gale.' The 

 Kestrel is included in the Birds Observed at Eainham, 

 by Mr. W. H. Power, who says : " A pair of these birds 

 in the autumn took possession of the roof of a solitary 

 shed -that had been erected on the marshes for the use 

 of the cattle. For this post of observation a flock of 

 Starlings continually contended, and numerous were the 

 skirmishes that took place, very often ending in the 

 Kestrels being driven off for a time. Although I con- 

 stantly saw one or other of these Kestrels apparently 

 surrounded by the Starlings, yet I never observed the 

 slightest attempt on their part to retaliate by striking 

 at any of their tormentors." 



Mr. J. Hunter,, of Faversham, writing on the large 

 game of the Kestrel, says : " On November 28, 1867, 

 when strolling over the cliffs near Heme Bay, I disturbed 

 a Kestrel at his dinner, which on examination, I found 

 to consist of a Hooded Crow. He had eaten all but the 



