182 "Kestrels and Crows." 



the fare. Just imagine, what would be the food were there no lapwings ? How 

 the young partridges would be picked up in a district where two old and four 

 young kestrels were ravaging about through July ! I had almost forgotten to 

 say that in the fir trees suiTounding the barn a pair of my old favourite carrion 

 crows had reared their family, three in number. You will not be surprised to 

 hear that the savage fellows were constantly coming in contact with the hawks, 

 and much fighting and screaming was the consequence. It so happened, by an 

 accident the crows were bereaved of two of their family, and I believe that from 

 July tiU March 1st the old birds were seldom separated from the survivor. I 

 saw the three nearly every day in the neighbourhood. I mention this to shew how 

 attached the bird is to its young, thoroughly educating them for nine months at 

 least. Since March I have missed one, whilst the others are evidently hoping 

 the weather may soon improve, Ln order that they may make preparations for 

 another family. I could not succeed in rearing one of these crows, but have 

 succeeded in partially taming one of the hawks. 



" Believe me, Dear Sir, 



" Yours very truly, 

 " 2nd April, 1878." " Feed. Stbatton." 



In a second letter, dated July 1st, 1878, Mr. Stratton writes : — 



" I have had considerable trouble since I wrote to you about my crow-pets. 

 The wire-worm increased so much on the lands where the crows made their haunt, 

 and had their nest, that I could not make it out until I was told by my carter 

 that the crows prevented the rooks from coming within a quarter-of-a-mile of 

 the wood. Immediately after I heard this, I myself saw the same thing occur, 

 so was compelled to get rid of my proteges at once. In two days the rooks came 

 again as usual, and almost cleared a small piece of late barley, proving that some- 

 times they really do haim. 



The kestrels have again taken to the box I put up inside the owl-hole at the 

 bam, adjoining which they bred last year, and the young ones, four in number, 

 are now nearly fledged." 



