334 FALCO TINNUNCULUS. 



age, four young ones to the nest, there must have been bred 

 here ninety-six windhover hawks last summer : add the parent 

 birds, and we shall have, in all, one liundred and forty-four. 

 Scarcely five of these birds were seen here from Michaelmas 

 to the latter end of January." 



I have not observed any deficiency of Kestrels in the districts 

 bordering on the Frith of Forth in winter, when, on the con- 

 trary, I think they are more numerous there than in summer. 

 Probably, like the Merlin, this species merely migrates from 

 the interior to the coast. In the inland parts of East Lothian, 

 Mr Hepburn also finds it more numerous in summer, as will 

 be seen from the following notice with which he has favoured 

 me. 



" Though by no means an uncommon bird in this county, 

 yet from the middle of October 1838 to March 1889, I did 

 not see a single individual ; but as spring advanced, their num- 

 bers increased. This season, I have seen none since the 15tli 

 of October. From this I think it is probable that they an- 

 nually migrate from this district ; but as I only began in May 

 1838 to pay particular attention to matters of this kind, I can- 

 not speak decidedly on the subject. Delightful truly it is to seek 

 the haunts of the Kestrel on some calm spring morning, when 

 love has tuned every throat in song, and to observe what 

 effect the season has upon its race. There they are, high up 

 in the blue vault of heaven, soaring about, now descending to 

 search the fields, and again mounting aloft. Hark how the 

 woods and rocks resound to their joyous kee^ kee, heelie, heelie. 

 There is grace in every action, and to me mnsic in each note. 

 They commonly make use of the deserted nest of the Carrion 

 Crow, laying from three to five eggs, about the end of March. 

 The young are fledged in June. Many years ago I knew of 

 a Kestrel's nest in a hole in a precipitous old-red-sandstone 

 rock, on the banks of Whittingham water. A young man, who 

 knows the species well, informs me that he has frequently 

 known it to nestle in such situations. Two or three pairs 

 breed annually among the rocks on the south side of Traprain 

 Law, about one mile from this place. 



" It is much to be regretted that the Kestrel should suffer for 



