DEVELOPMENT OF A YOUNG KESTEEL. 801 



and tail lengthening considerably, especially the former ; 

 this can be well seen by noticing the comparative lengths 

 of the wings and tail shown in Fig. 2 (thirty-three days 

 old) and Fig. 3 (forty-seven days old). In the latter 

 two or three small tufts of down are still adhering to the 

 feathers of the crown. 



With regard to the gradual acquisition of the full 

 powers of the adult Kestrel I made the following notes. 



FIG. 3. KESTREL. FORTY-SEVEN DAYS OLD. 



The meat upon which the chicks were at first fed was 

 held in the beak while the tongue was thrust out beneath 

 it, and then quickly withdrawn, so that the tongue-spurs, 

 catching in front of the meat, dragged it into the mouth. 

 It may be noted that the coloration of the tongue was 

 very interesting, being salmon-pink with black spurs, 

 and a transverse black bar between them and the tip. 



As soon as the chick could stand up, at the age of 

 sixteen days, the muscles of the legs must have developed 



