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GENUS TINNUNCULUS. 

 BED-FOOTED FALCON. 



TiNNUNCULUS VESPEHTINUS (Linnffius). 



A young male was obtained in Heaton Park in 1843, 

 shot whilst feeding on dragon-flies over a " pit " there, 

 and is now in the possession of Mr. Wright Johnson of 

 Prestwich. In the museum of Peel Park, Salford, are a 

 male and female which Mr. John Plant says he purchased 

 from some birdstuffers named Harrop in 1850, who told 

 him they had been shot in Prestwich, Clough about the 

 year 1843. 



KESTEEL. 



TiNNUNCULUS ALAUDARius (J. F. Gmeliu). 



Local Names — lied Haiclc, Windhovey, StaiiiicL 



The Kestrel is the commonest of the birds of prey, 

 and is resident throughout the year. It is universally 

 distributed, and breeds wherever there are suitable 

 woods, always showing a preference for those growing at 

 some elevation. Not invariably, however, does it rear 

 its young in trees ; I have known it occupy for the 

 purpose a ruined shooting-box among the hills, and 

 very often a ledge of rock on some desolate moor is 

 chosen, the soil being just scratched away a little, and 

 the eggs laid on a collection of old "pellets." These 

 pellets, which are almost entirely composed of the 

 elytra of beetles and fur of mice, are also the only 



