108 NATURAL HISTORY AND 



a larger eye to collect the last rays of failing light. 

 Although they have no objection to birds, when 

 they can catch them, and prowl all day to provide 

 for their nestlings, I consider kestrels less hurtful 

 to game than the ivy owl which flies entirely by 

 night, and my opinion is borne out by the feeding 

 hoards of both when they have young. It is a 

 fact that kestrels have far less difficulty in provid- 

 ing their nestlings with a constant supply of field- 

 mice than the brown owl has ; and this is accounted 

 for by the kestrel's power of wing, which enables 

 her to keep the air with the same ease as those 

 buoyant owls which live exclusively on mice. 

 The last summer I fished Loch Baa a pair of these 

 birds were rearing their young close to " the Sal- 

 mon Point." Every time I fished the point the 

 hawks flew round screaming, while I assured my 

 oarsman (a poacher from Salen) that they did no 

 harm to game, and much good to the farmer. The 

 man could scarcely conceal a sneer, until one after- 

 noon the screamer dashed out of the wood, within 

 a few yards of our heads, with a large field-mouse 

 dangling in its claws. " I see'd its tail an' legs as 

 plain as the boat," he repeated again and again. 



