THE KESTRELS. 



203 



[China. Our European Kestrel visits the Gold Coast in winter 

 and extends its range a considerable way down East Africa, and 

 perhaps to the southern districts of the continent. India is 

 also a winter home for the species, which is resident in the 

 I Himalayas. 



In many countries bordering its southern range the Kestrel 

 jis represented by a dark resident race. Thus, in the Azores, 

 [in the mountains of Abyssinia, and again in those of Southern 

 idia and Burma, there is a distinct difference in size and in 

 deeper colouration of the Kestrels, which can hardly be 

 )ked upon as specific, but which show modifications effected 

 a tropical habitat. 



Habits From its habit of hovering in the air, the Kestrel is 

 mently noticed in the country, where it is known in many 

 )laces as the "Windhover." It is to be seen on almost any 

 jvening in the neighbourhood of the stubble-fields, where, 

 is if held in the air by a thread, it hovers on the look-out 

 >r field-mice. If unsuccessful in its search, it will circle away 

 :o another part of the field, and then commence to hover 

 igain, till it falls like a bolt on its unsuspecting prey. Its food 

 msists not only of mice, moles, and other small mammalia, 

 it also largely of insects, frogs, lizards, &c. Cockchafers are 

 favourite food, and these and other beetles it devours on the 

 ring. It is but rarely that the Kestrel is driven by sheer 

 lecessity, in a droughty season perhaps, to make a raid on the 

 ^heasant-coops to find food for its young, and, as a rule, the 

 bird is a real friend to the farmer and gardener. So little do 

 small birds regard it as an enemy, that I have seen a Kestrel 

 perched on a straw-stack and surrounded by Sparrows, who 

 Lvere pilfering gaily without heeding the Hawk, and when the 

 ittle birds flew off, affording, as one would have thought a 

 jplendid opportunity for a raid on such a flock, the Kestrel 

 jiid not attempt to follow. 



That they can, however, when hard pressed for food, be 

 :idedly destructive to young game has been proved by 

 jveral observers, and Mr. De Winton lately shot a pair in the 

 ict of killing young Pheasants. This is, however, undoubtedly 

 rare occurrence, and was the more remarkable in this instance, 

 mse this particular pair seemed to be the only delinquents ; 

 ill the other Kestrels, of which there were plenty in the neigh- 



