BIRDS OF PREY 149 



like furies for the dummy pigeon. He shot both at 

 one shot ; they were not knocked about, the stuffed 

 pigeon received the brunt of the charge, and was, to 

 use the man's own expression, ' completely ruinated 

 between 'em/ The other choice morsels of the 

 kestrel are turkey poults of some considerable size, 

 the young of pheasants and partridges, and young 

 chickens and ducklings. I have seen it stated in very 

 positive terms that he is almost guiltless of bird 

 slaughter. That may be so where there are no birds 

 perhaps such places are to be found though I do 

 not know of any. The kestrel will single a pewit out 

 from a flock, chase him in grand form, and kill him. 

 I admire him greatly, but he is certainly a bird 

 slaughterer. 



That fine bird the goshawk is almost extinct in 

 this country now : he was common enough once. 

 According to the old works on falconry the very 

 qualities which made him highly prized in those days 

 have been the cause of his destruction in modern 

 times. He is a bird of most determined disposition, 

 large and powerful. Hares, rabbits, grouse, and 

 other creatures of the woods, moors, hillsides, and 

 heaths, found in him a most ferocious enemy. He 

 looks exactly what he is, a freebooter. Those I have 

 had the opportunity of observing were brought over 



