12 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



yeavj five specimens falling into the hands of the same person 

 in a very few days. Also that one was brought to him taken 

 alive near Lewes, September 13th, 1850 (pp. 2410, 2698, 

 and 2953) . 



In the same journal (p. 9465) Mr. Button states that a 

 male Merlin, with the blue back, was shot at Abbotswood, 

 near Hailsham, early in January 1865. 



This species is entirely a winter visitant, appearing in 

 autumn and departing in spring. 



KESTREL. 



FaJco tinnunculus. 



Is resident, as well as partially migratory. 



When the Magpie and the Carrion-Crow abounded in the 

 woods, this Hawk might frequently be found to take posses- 

 sion of their deserted nests for its breeding purposes ; those 

 birds, however, have now become comparatively scarce, 

 which may in some degree account for the Kestrel being 

 also less commonly met with than it was in former days. 



It is very difficult, too, to persuade the farmers and game- 

 keepers that this bird in no way interferes with their interests, 

 and that, as it preys almost entirely on rats, mice, and other 

 small quadrupeds, and on reptiles, it is so far from being an 

 injurious bird, that it is one Avhich ought to be protected for 

 the good it does. 



It is stated in the 4th edition of YarrelFs ' British Birds ' 

 (vol. i. p. 79) that the remains of frogs, coleopterous insects 

 and their larvse, and earthworms have been found in the 

 stomach of the Kestrel. Mr. Selby, in his ' Illustrations of 

 British Ornithology^ (ed. 1, vol. i. p. 44), mentions this 

 bird as sometimes feeding on cockchafers, both taking and 



