72 HILL BIRDS OF SCOTLAND 



several pairs of Wrens, and maybe a Goosander or Red- 

 breasted Merganser. In one such gorge that I know, a 

 Merhn and a Kestrel nested within a few yards of each other. 

 In the usual sense of the word, the Kestrel makes no 

 nest. She scrapes a small depression on . some rocky 

 ledge, and in this deposits her eggs. She is — ^after the 

 manner of all falcons — constantly throwing up castings, 

 consisting of the undigested portions and fur of the mice 

 which enter so largely into her diet, and in time these cast- 

 ings form a soft bed of fur on which the eggs repose. The 

 eggs of the Kestrel number from three to five, the latter 

 number being the more usual of the two. In colour, if 

 not in shape, they closely resemble those of the Red 

 Grouse. Over a ground colour of pale reddish white are 

 laid many confused markings of dull brownish red. The 

 eggs lack the pyriform shape common to those of the 

 family of Waders, and at times are almost circular. They 

 are laid towards the end of May, but as early as the open- 

 ing days of that month the Kestrels maj^ be seen circling 

 and toying with each other above the ground they have 

 chosen as a nesting site. The hen bird is rarely a close 

 sitter, flying out from her nest and circling round the 

 intruder with loud screams. Sometimes, however, she 

 can be approached unawares and even caught as she 

 broods her eggs. It is unusual for more than one pair of 

 Kestrels to tenant the same gorge, but I once knew of two 

 nesting close together, in a place where it was evident a 

 Golden Eagle came frequently to roost. I have seen a 

 Kestrel flying restlessly round her nesting site, pursued 

 with consideral:)le heat by a Ring Ouzel, which was 

 evidently engaged in rearing a })rood in the same locality. 

 The young Kestrels when first hatched are covered 

 with grey white doAvn and grow rapidly. Their food 

 consists mainly of mice — Mus sylvaticus, Mus domesticus, 

 Arvicola agresiis, and shrews, especially Sorex araneus. 



