KESTREL. 141 



we, however, at present prefer retaining it as a 

 part of Faico, and a comparison between what 

 are called the Kestrels, (F tinnunculus, tin- 

 nunculoideS) rupicola, &c.) the Merlin, and the 

 little American F. sparverius, will, we believe, 

 lead to a similar conclusion. The bill is perfectly 

 typical, and the wings, though proportionably 

 shorter, are, in the comparative length of the 

 quills, more so than in the Merlin ; the second 

 quill is the longest, in the Merlin it is the third ; 

 but it is in the feet and tarsi we find the greatest 

 variation. The legs are clothed with small rough 

 scales, three large plates only covering the joint 

 of the tarsus with the toes ; the feet are altogether 

 shorter proportionally, particularly the outer 

 toes, a form which we observe in the species of 

 Raptores which feed more exclusively on reptiles 

 or insects ; and this we have borne out by the 

 habits of the birds we are describing. The 

 Kestrels feed much less on birds than any of our 

 small European Falcons. The chief food of the 

 common bird is the small mammalia comprised 

 in the genera, mus, sorex and arvicola, and for 

 this purpose, we see a peculiar manner of 

 hunting, and of motionless suspended flight, 

 which has gained for it the common, but expres- 

 sive appellation, of " Windhover ;" they hang, 

 as it were, in the air, balancing themselves by 

 the expanded tail, and an occasional rapid 



