KESTRIL. 123 



Hawk was in great esteem among the ancient Egyptians, 

 their god Osiris being represented under this form. It 

 is found in all the countries from Russia, southward, to 

 the Cape of Good Hope. 



The length of the male is about twelve, and of the 

 female fifteen inches. They vary greatly in colour. 

 The upper parts of the female are sometimes dusky bluish 

 ash-coloured, sometimes dusky brown ; and of the male, 

 somewhat dove-coloured. The under parts are yellowish 

 white, waved with grey ; and the tail is barred with 

 black. The beak is bluish, the cere green, and the legs 

 yellow. 



Kestril. In some countries the Kestril is trained for 

 the catching of game. It preys on small birds, and even 

 on mice and insects. It soars into the air, hovers for 

 some time over a fixed place, on watch for prey, gently 

 fanning its wings, and suddenly darts upon it, the 

 moment it is in sight. As soon as this is seized, it 

 plucks off the feathers, if a bird ; but if a mouse, swal- 

 lows it entire, and discharges the hair and bones by the 

 bill, in the form of round balls. Kestrils breed in 

 similar places with the sparrow hawk, and lay four or 

 five eggs, which are of a pale reddish colour. They are 

 found in all parts of Europe, and also in Siberia and 

 Tartary. 



The male is about fourteen inches in length. The cere 

 and [legs are yellow. The back is of a purplish red 

 colour, with brown spots, and ta the breast is marked with 

 streaks of brown. In the male, the crown of the head 

 and the tail are of a light grey colour ; the latter being 

 rounded, and having a broad, black band near the end. 

 The tips of all the tail-feathers are white, except the 

 middle ones. In the female, the colours are less bright 



G 2 



