156 THE RIVER-SIDE NATURALIST. 



It is a very beautiful bird, and very graceful in its 

 movements. In the male, the top of the head and neck a 

 beautiful ash-grey, with long streaks ; the back and wing- 

 coverts fawn-colour, with small black spots ; tail ash- 

 blue grey ; eyes dark brown ; legs and toes yellow. The 

 female is larger and more uniform in colour. 



Willughby says : " The term kestrel is derived from 

 the Greek word Keypos, a millet, as if one should say 

 millet bird," alluding to the mottled millet-like marks on 

 the breast. The bird also goes by the name of the Stannel- 

 Hawk, Stand-Hawk, or Steinfall. So Shakespeare, in 

 " Twelfth Night," Act ii. sc. v. : 



" And with what wing the stanniel checks at it." 



In Scotland we occasionally come across some of the 

 grander species of the Falconidce, as the GOLDEN EAGLE and 

 the PEREGRINE FALCON. We were once fishing on Loch 

 Coolin, in Ross-shire, when a splendid specimen of the 

 former soared over our heads not very far above us, 

 making for a neighbouring crag ; and again in Argyleshire, 

 whilst fishing the river Carnac, we put down our rod to 

 watch two golden eagles on the opposite hill hunting for 

 game (rabbits). One settled on a rock quite near, and 

 with our binocular we got a splendid view of him and his 

 eagle eye flashing in the sunlight. 



