Birds of Prey. 1 7 



sparrow had been caught by a Kestrel, its cries brought 

 a number of swallows to its rescue, and they attacked 

 the Hawk with so much fury that they compelled him 

 to release his victim. This bird is supposed to prefer 

 a mouse diet to any other, but I fear it cannot be 

 acquitted of stealing young chickens or any other 

 small game that may come in its way, and its name 

 would seem to signify a propensity to lark-eating. 

 Still it does devour a great quantity of mice, and is 

 most useful to the farmer on that account. It also 

 eats reptiles, frogs and moles, and insects, and may be 

 seen chasing beetles and cockchafers quite late at 

 night, catching them in its claws, and devouring them 

 while on the wing. It will also destroy worms, cater- 

 pillars, and other larvae. When in the air its wings 

 are continually shivering, and its common name oi 

 Windhover has been acquired from this habit oi 

 hovering with its face towards the wind. 



A writer in " Science Gossip " says he once possessed 

 a very large and beautiful Kestrel hen, which soon 

 became so docile and affectionate that she would come 

 when whistled to, and perching upon his hand, took 

 great delight in being fondled, and rubbed her head 

 against the hand that caressed her. The secondary 

 and tertiary feathers of one wing being clipped, she 

 was allowed the run of a large walled garden, and she 

 kept her feathers and feet delicately clean. She was 

 always shut in a small tool-house at the end of a hot- 



