204 THE LIFE OF THE FIELDS. 



and then stops short. His tail, which is broader than 

 it looks, is bent slightly downwards ; his wings beat 

 the air, at the first glance, just as if he was progress- 

 ing. Sometimes he seems to oscillate to one side, 

 sometimes to the other ; but these side movements do 

 not amount to any appreciable change of position. If 

 there be little or no wind (note this) he remains beating 

 the air, to the eye at least perfectly stationary, perhaps 

 as much as half a minute or more. He then seems to 

 slip forward about half a yard, as if a pent-up force 

 was released, but immediately recovers himself and 

 hovers again. This alternate hovering and slipping 

 forward may be repeated two or three times : it seems 

 to depend on the bird's judgment as to the chance of 

 prey. If he does not think a mouse is to be had, at 

 the first slip he allows himself to proceed. If the spot 

 be likely, or (what is still more tempting) if it is near 

 a place where he has taken prey previously, he will 

 slip and bring up several times. Now and then he 

 will even fetch a half-circle when his balance or 

 impetus (or both) is quite exhausted, and so return to 

 the same spot and recommence. But this is not often, 

 as a rule, after two or three slips he proceeds on his 

 voyage. He will repeat the same round day after day, 

 if undisturbed, and, if the place be at all infested with 

 mice, he will come to it three or four times a day. 

 There is, therefore, every chance of watching him, if 

 you have once found his route. Should he spy a 

 mouse, down he comes, quick but steady, and very 

 nearly straight upon it. But kestrels do not always 

 descend upon prey actually in view. Unless I am 

 much mistaken, they now and then descend in a likely 



