THE KESTREL. 



THERE are now but two raptorial birds or, more plainly 

 speaking, birds of prey of any frequent occurrence in 

 this country. True, the wanderer over the moors will 

 perhaps see a few Hobbies and Merlins in the deepest 

 solitudes, or notice a solitary Buzzard in the largest 

 woods, but such occurrences are becoming rarer year 

 by year, and the Kestrel and Sparrowhawk are the 

 birds most commonly met with. 



The Kestrel, or, as it is frequently called, the Wind- 

 hover, from its peculiar habit of hovering motionless in 

 the air, is perhaps the most frequently seen. We find 

 him in the woods and coppices, or even in the moorland 

 districts he is seen sailing majestically over the rugged 

 ravines, or perched on the stunted trees growing out of 

 the massive rocks. With us the Kestrel is a partially 

 migratory species. They leave us at the latter end of 

 autumn, and return early in the following year, some- 

 times as soon as February. But let not the observer be 

 led astray by these remarks, for I have never yet known 



