132 THE KESTREL. 



this post and kept loosely open, and hollow at the bottom, to 

 the extent of ten or twelve yards round the post, for the 

 Partridges to run into when pursued by the Goshawk, which 

 they usually did after being disturbed two or three times. 

 The Goshawk, finding itself disappointed, and unable to follow 

 them with its long wings amongst the bushes and briars, after 

 flying round them for some turns, was sure to perch upon 

 the top of the post, as the only resting-place at hand, and 

 was there as sure to be taken by a trap set there for the 

 purpose. 



The beautiful, and at the same time very common, little 

 Hawk, called the Kestrel, when in search of its prey, may be 

 seen hovering high in the air in the same spot, with its head 

 towards the wind. It has been asserted by some naturalists 

 that it lives only upon insects and mice, and will not touch 

 small birds. This, however, is untrue ; the Kestrel will not 

 only kill small birds, but others nearly as large as itself, as 

 the following fact will prove. One of them was observed to 

 seize a young Blackbird just able to fly, which it was in the 

 act of carrying off in its talons. The old Blackbird gave 

 chase with loud cries, and apparent determination to rescue 

 her young one, when the Kestrel, having allowed her to 

 approach unmolested, in an instant dropped the young bird, 

 and as instantaneously caught up the screaming parent, and 

 carried her clear away. The habit of hawking on the wing 

 has been further proved by its having been seen on summer 

 evenings darting amongst a swarm of cockchafers, seizing one 

 in each claw, and eating them on the wing, and then again 

 darting amongst them. 



That birds possibly may by their swifter flight often escape 

 is not unlikely ; but exclusive of the above instances, bird- 

 catchers know to their cost, while patiently watching their 

 nets, how often the Kestrel, hovering over the field, will 

 pounce down and destroy their most valuable call-birds ; 

 accordingly they contrive a suitable trap for catching them, 

 which rarely fails. A white napkin is spread upon a meadow, 

 and fastened down at the corners with little hooked sticks ; 



