256 EEMINISCEXCES OF A SPORTSMAX. 



the entire skin of the mouse, as if it had been flayed. 

 It at first feeds the young with insects, and afterwards 

 carries to them plenty of field mice, which it perceives 

 on the gromid from the greatest height in the air, when 

 it slowly circles, and then remains stationary to spy its 

 prey, on which it falls in a moment. It sometimes 

 carries off a red partridge much heavier than itself. It 

 often also catches pigeons which straggle from the flocks ; 

 but its most common prey, next to field mice and rep- 

 tiles, consists of sparrows, chaffinches, and other small 

 birds." Though Buffon's account is interesting, it is 

 erroneous ; the kestrel never kills birds when they are 

 on the wdng. It kills them as it does mice, when they 

 are running or at rest on the ground. The propaga- 

 tion of the kestrel begins about the end of March, the 

 male and female remaining together through the year. 

 This bird may be met with in any part of Great Britain, 

 equally on cultivated as in wild localities. The nest it 

 makes is simple, as it may be said to be rather laid 

 than built in the excavations in the cliffs on the sea 

 coasts. Cavities in trees are not unfrequently made 

 use of for the purpose, and occasionally kestrels occupy 

 the deserted nest of one of the pie tribe. Four or five 

 eggs are usually deposited, rather of a short elliptical 

 than round form, uniform, or almost uniform at both 

 ends, of a pale orange colour, dotted or splashed with 

 dirty red. The flight of the kestrel is singular, yet 

 graceful. It appears like suspension in the air without 

 effort. If observed steadily a slight motion of the 

 wings may be noticed, which fans the air, and thus 

 supports the bird, who at the same moment, and with 

 little effort, fills her whole body with air. The kestrel 



