134 KESTREL. 



not noted as occurring in other districts of the county, except 

 occasionally in the winter. Indeed it may almost be said — 



Now no more our bursting woods 

 Hear the swooping Merlins scream. 



Bennett. 



The Merlin feeds chiefly on small birds — Snipes, Larks, 

 Thrushes, and Blackbirds. It will hover over the Snipe Shooter, 

 and give chase to the wounded birds, or to those that escape the 

 guns. It will boldly attack the House Pigeon, and has indeed 

 been trained to hawk Pigeons. 



[Genus — Tinnunculus.] 



[TiNNUNCULUs VESPERTiNus — Red-footed Falcon.] 



\Falco vespertinus — Yar7'elL'\ 



An occasional visitor to England. 



TINNUNCULUS ALAUDARIUS— Kestrel. 



\Falco tinnunculus — Yarrell?\ 



As the Wyndhover hangs in the balance. 



Tennyson— ^y^TJicr's Field. 



One they might trust their common wrongs to wreak, 

 The Musquel and the Coystrel were too weak. 



Drtden — Hind and Panther. 



The Kestrel, or Windhover, is a constant resident in the 

 county. It is the most common of the Hawks and adds great 

 pleasure to country walks. Its graceful flight, and the way it sustains 

 itself stationary in the air by the rapid movement of its wings, as it 

 hovers over the ground to scan its surface for the mice it delights 

 to feed on, is very interesting to watch. Its chief food is mice, 

 rats, small birds, frogs, and cockchafers. It may now and then 

 take a young Partridge, but it does not deserve the hatred the 

 gamekeepers bestow upon it, for the fault is abundantly condoned 



