128 THE BIRDS OF COOKHAM AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. 
when observed hovering over the stubble fields, which is the 
general opinion of authors, I am inclined to think it is more 
probably attracted by the sparrows which collect in such numbers 
inthestubble. At least, this is my opinion, for on many occasions 
I have pursued these flocks of Sparrows to get for myself a 
“‘Sparrow-pie,”’ and on one occasion, [remember well, having 
crept close up to a flock, I was about to fire from behind the 
hedge, when I saw a brown thing jumping about on the ground 
in the midst of them. I thought at first it was astoat, but I soon 
saw it was a Kestrel, and I stood watching it. What surprised 
me most was, that the Sparrows did not fly, but were dodging 
about like mice on all sides of the Hawk, apparently aware that 
if once on the wing, the Hawk would soon overtake them, where- 
as, on the ground their smaller size and superioragility enabled 
them to elude his grasp. The Kestrel, however, conquered, for 
I heard a squeak, and then the whirr of the flock as it took flight, 
and immediately after the Hawk flew over my head with a 
Sparrow in its claw. Ihad never thought of firing till he was 
out of reach, but I followed the direction he took, and he finally 
darted out from under a plough-share, where I found the Sparrow 
with his head eaten off. The Kestrel is also an enemy in winter 
to the Siskins, Redpoles, and Goldfinches, which at that time of the 
year frequent the alder-trees. When one day I had shot into a 
number of Siskins, and the flock had resettled on the tree again 
while I was reloading, a male Kestrel sailed over my head and 
carried off a victim in my presence. Mr. Briggs has also seen 
them glide quietly along the edge of the trees and seize the 
Siskins, which, when feeding, always hang at the outermost tips 
of the branches. I am very fond of keeping this species in con- 
‘finement, and was speaking to a London bird-fancier lately about 
some young birds, and asking if they could feed themselves. In 
proof that they could he produced the smallest bird out of five, 
which had been killed by the others, who had begun to devour 
it. Who would have thought of the Kestrel being such a 
cannibal ? 
(Lo be continued.) 
