106 On the Occurrence of some of the Rarer Species of Birds 
When first disturbed it was feeding upon a little leveret, only a 
day or two old; but, baiting the gin with the remainder, the keeper 
caught the bird the next morning on its usual round to the same 
spot. Here is the exception that proves the rule. But I would 
remind the reader it is not on the birds of prey alone that the charge 
must be laid of diminishing the game list. Many another bird, outside 
the Order “ Raptores,” would be quite unable to resist the temptation 
of making a mouthful of a newly-hatched Pheasant or Partridge— 
as an illustration of which propensity I may mention that I re- 
member seeing an old Spanish hen, in my possession, gobble up two 
fully-fledged wrens, one after another, whose maiden flight from the 
nest was most unfortunately taken into the midst of her pen. I 
remember also that the head keeper at Clarendon told me one day 
that ke looked upon the red-backed Shrike as one of his most de- 
termined enemies, for he had more than once seen it dart down on 
a newly-hatched Pheasant, and kill it with one blow on the head from 
its wedge-shaped bill. And besides these examples there are un- 
doubtedly many other unsuspected cannibals, who now and then 
show no respect to the weaklings of the feathered race. It is re- 
markable how quickly birds are attracted to the same spot by any 
of their own species, though previously they may have been for a 
long while unnoticed in the neighbourhood. In 1870 a tame Kestrel 
of mine made its escape, and for three or four days after several 
Kestrels remained clese to the Vicarage, apparently in attendance 
on the escaped prisoner, which must (I think) eventually have flown 
off with them, as afterwards I saw no more of it or them. It is 
interesting to observe how both birds and animals of opposing 
natures seem to enter into a tacit agreement to respect mutually each 
others domains, when they happen to take up their domicile in the 
same quarters—As an instance a friend of mine, when a boy at 
Marlborough, found in the same tree, a Missel-Thrush’s nest, a 
Kestrel’s, and a Squirrel’s draw, all close together, and mutually 
respected. Mr. Hart was mentioning to me the other day the 
marked difference that existed between the flight of the male and 
female Kestrel, by which he could generally detect at a distance 
the sexes of the birds: the male bird delighting to shoot through 
