CHAPTER VII. 
How to tell Birds on the Wing 
(continued). 
“The seamew’s lonely laughter 
Flits down the flowing wave ; 
The green scarts follow after 
The surge where cross-tides rave.’’—Fiona Macleod. 
Falcons—golden eagle—harriers and sparrowhawk—The beron—The cormorant, 
shag, and gannet—The petrels—Guillemots, razorbills, and puffins—The ducks—The 
great crested grebe and dabchick—The pigeons—The “ plover tribe ’’—The gulls 
and terns—The game birds. 
UR native birds of prey, the owls and hawks, have been so 
() harrassed by game-keepers that many species are now 
exterminated, while others are but rarely seen. Some, however, 
in favoured localities still remain to us. At one time the owls 
and hawks were believed to be nearly related: they were 
distinguished as the “‘ Nocturnal” and “ Diurnal” birds of prey. 
We now know that they are not in the remotest degree related. 
The owls, indeed, are closely related to the nightjars. They 
have been already discussed here. The hawk tribe must now 
have their turn. 
The one most commonly seen to-day is the kestrel, which is 
really a falcon, not a “ hawk.” No bird is so easily identified on 
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