KESTREL. 143 



I watched him through a glass, and saw him 

 dart through a swarm of insects, seize one of 

 them in each claw, and eat them while flying. 

 He returned to the charge again and again 

 I ascertained it beyond a doubt, as I afterwards 

 shot him.' " We may add also, that there is, in 

 the habits of these small Falcons, a very great 

 analogy to the manners of the Shrikes. 



In works on falconry, the Kestrel was said to 

 be " easily reclaimed," and was trained to fly at 

 small birds, snipes, and quails. Mr Sinclaire of 

 Belfast, however, does not seem to hold them in 

 very high estimation for this purpose ; he has 

 trained them so far as, when allowed their liberty, 

 they will attend*and soar above him like the Pere- 

 grine, and fly at small birds let off from the hand.* 

 In confinement, it is by far the most familiar 

 Falcon we have ever tamed, by a little attention 

 and kindness losing all shyness, coming at once 

 when called on, perching on the hand and shoul- 

 der, and uttering its expressive cry of fondness, 

 which can be so easily distinguished in its eyries, 

 when the parents are returning with food to the 

 young, or when the male approaches his partner 

 upon the nest. A remarkable anecdote is men- 

 tioned by Mr Thompson of a Kestrel belonging 

 to his friend Mr Sinclaire. One of these birds, 



* Mag. of Zool. and Bot. vol. ii. 



