180 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 



A dead or stuffed bird, or even a bird viewed through the 

 glasses, gives little idea of the handsome dignity of appearance 

 that the living bird possesses, and of course can give no idea 

 of ths leisurely lithe ness and extreme grace of movement. 

 The kestrel is a bird usually treated with scant courtesy and 

 looked down upon as compared with his congeners ; but no 

 one who has had the living bird within 12 feet of him, and had 

 leisure to examine it critically, c?.n fail to be struck with the 

 fact that he really possesses all the aristocratic beauty usually 

 associated with the Falconidae. I was very delighted with 

 him, and it was quite a revelation to me what a beautiful bird 

 the kestrel is. 



He stayed about one minute and then sailed off. 



12.0 The cock went back to the hen, apparently to reassure 

 her, and sat in the heather at the cliff edge in full view. The 

 hen fell off her perch and then scrambled up to the cock. 



12.5. The hen came to the nest, but was so nervous she 

 barely stayed half a second, certainly not long enough for 

 me to squeeze the bulb, although I was ready. The click of 

 my watchchain as I moved sent her off in a fright. 



12.10. The male came in with a great cloud of sand and I 

 gave him an instantaneous at full speed (E.H.C. said he heard 

 the metallic ping of the shutter closing 300 yards away, like 

 the singing of a rifle bullet). The bird cleared at the noise 

 and went round calling " check, check, check, check." He 

 is much the bolder bird. 



12.15. One of the birds came into the sandpit with either 

 a young bird or else a mouse in its talons (subsequently 

 proved to be Mus sylvaticus). What looked like the white 

 fluffy head of a young bird was visible at the entrance 

 (subsequently proved to be a casting). 



12.32. Male came to the nest, but had not the courage to 

 stay. He evidently did not like the big eye of the camera 

 looking at him. Whilst I was writing the note, however, he 

 returned bringing the hinderpart of a Meadow Pipit ( Anthus 

 pratensis). I got a picture of him which clearly shews the 

 identity of the leg by the hind toe and claw. 12.35. Hen 



