372 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



these small Hawks pursuing a Pipit which alighted near a 

 horse feeding in a field, when the Hawk immediately perched 

 on the horse's back on the look out for its quarry. Near 

 Masham a Kestrel was seen to capture a Starling. 



The local names are : Windhover in general use ; Hover 

 Hawk in the North and West Ridings ; Stand Hawk in 

 Cleveland ; Standing Hawk at Skelmanthorpe ; Steangall 

 in Arkengarthdale and in the West Riding dales ; Jack Hawk, 

 Little Red Hawk, and Yellow-backed Hawk in Arkengarth- 

 dale ; Red Hawk and Mouse Hawk at Loftus-in-Cleveland 

 and Beverley ; and Brown Hawk in the Western Ainsty. 

 Stannel, Stanchel, Stannel Hawk, Fleingall (i.e. Fly-in-gale), 

 Vanner Hawk, and Wind-fanner are all old names mentioned 

 by Swainson. 



[An example of the American representative of our species 

 (F. sparverius), now in the York Museum, was formerly 

 in the possession of Mr. J. Backhouse of York, who states 

 that it is one of a pair captured near Helmsley in May 1882, 

 and that he is convinced of its authenticity. Opinions differ, 

 however, as to the reliance to be placed on the evidence con- 

 nected with its occurrence, and I regret my inability to 

 include it in the Yorkshire list. (See Zool. 1883, p. 126 ; 1884, 

 pp. 176, 230 ; Nat. 1884, p. 169 ; and Saunders' " Manual," 

 2nd Ed. p. 356.)] 



LESSER KESTREL. 



Falco cenchris (Naumati). 



Accidental visitant, from southern Europe, of extremely rare 

 occurrence. 



The first British example of this south European species was 

 obtained by the late John Harrison of Wilstrop Hall, near 

 Green Hammerton, who supplied the following particulars 

 of the occurrence : 



About the middle of November 1867, this bird was observed 

 by him for some days flying about his farm, and, his curiosity 



