FALCO VESPERTINUS. 119 



The Orange-Legged Falcon. 



(Falco Vesper iinus.) Linn. 



Like the hobby, this beautiful little falcon is so extremely 

 rare in Britain, that it does not come within the pale of our St 

 Andrews birds ; and I only introduce it here to preserve the 

 link of British birds. It is smaller than the hobby — about the 

 size of the merlin. Its general colour is greyish blue, and easily 

 distinguished by its orange-tinted tarsi. 



The Kestrel or Windhover. 



{Falco Tinnunculus). Linn, 



" Below the lark the kestrel hovers, 

 But lower still the beetle crawls ; 

 And down beside the wailing plovers 

 Upon the little mouse he falls. " 



This beautiful falcon is well named the windhover. I have 

 often seen it hovering without altering its position, as if hung 

 on air — about thirty feet up — intently watching some object on 

 the ground, and always with its head to the wind. It sometimes 

 sweeps round in small circles, then sails away as if disappointed ; 

 hovers again, then swoops down as if to clutch something on 

 the ground ; suddenly hovers, then down again a short way ; 

 again hovers a few seconds, as if to make certain of its prey, 

 then sweeps down like a stone to the ground and secures it— 

 generally a straying field mouse or a coleopterous insect — then 

 ascends obliquely, and flies off with a rapid, direct flight. 



It is the most common of our falcons, is found broadcast 

 throughout Britain, and is easily known from other birds of prey 

 by its habit of remaining suspended in the air — fixed, as it 

 were, to the spot by a quivering motion of the wings, so rapid 

 as to be scarcely perceptible. It preys upon field mice, the 

 larger beetles, and sometimes small birds. It has its nest on 

 ledges of rocks, as well as trees, which is sometimes a mere 

 hollow in the rock, with a few twigs placed loosely together — or 

 in an old carrion crow's or wood pigeon's — partially lined with 



