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THE HOVERING OF THE KESTREL. 



There has lately been some discussion about the 

 hovering of kestrels : the point being whether the bird 

 can or cannot support itself in the air while stationary, 

 without the assistance of one or more currents of air. 

 The kestrel is the commonest hawk in the southern 

 parts of England, so that many opportunities occur to 

 observe his habits ; and there ought not to be any 

 doubt in the matter. It is even alleged that it will go 

 far to decide the question of the possibility of flight or 

 of the construction of an aerial machine. Without 

 entering into this portion of the discussion, let us 

 examine the kestrel's habits. 



This hawk has a light easy flight, usually maintain- 

 ing an altitude a little lower than the tallest elms, but 

 higher than most trees. He will keep this particular 

 altitude for hours together, and sweep over miles of 

 country, with only occasional variations — excluding, 

 of course, descents for the purpose of taking mice. It 

 is usually at this height that a kestrel hovers, though 

 he is capable of doing it at a much greater elevation. 

 As he comes gliding through the atmosphere, suddenly 

 he shoots up a little (say, roughly, two or three feet), 



