RAPTORES. FALCO. 49 



charge again and again. I ascertained it beyond a doubt, 

 as I afterwards shot him *." 



The Kestrel is easily reclaimed, and was formerly trained 

 to the pursuit of larks, snipes, and young partridges. 



It is a species, in point of geographical distribution, very 

 widely spread, being found in all parts of Europe ; and spe- 

 cimens I have obtained from India seem to be in every re- 

 spect the same, with the slight exception of the colours of the 

 female bird usually appearing paler. 



In form as well as habits, the Kestrels (as Sir WM. JAR- 

 DINE justly observes, in his edition of WILSON'S American 

 Ornithology) differ from the species previously described ; 

 their wings being shorter, and the relative proportions of the 

 feathers different. Their manner of hovering, and taking 

 their prey by surprise, is also characteristic. To this subor- 

 dinate group may be added the Rusty-crowned Falcon of 

 the Fauna Boreali- Americana (the American Sparrow-Hawk 

 of WILSON) ; whose habits seem to be intermediate between 

 those of the Kestrel and Merlin ; and some others belonging 

 to that country, which Prince CHARLES BONAPARTE has se- 

 parated from the larger Falcons. At the extremity of this 

 group the Merlin appears to hold its station ; whose habits, 

 as well as the more rounded form of the wings, and the 

 length of the toes, apparently lead back to the Sparrow- 

 Hawks, or Accipitrine sub-family. 



PLATE 17. A female bird, of the natural size. 



The whole of the upper parts of the plumage are of a red- General 

 dish orange, marked with numerous arrow-shaped black J^ cnp " 

 spots and bars. Tail having a broad black bar near Fem ale 

 the tip, which is white ; the upper part reddish-orange, 

 barred with black. Breast, belly, and thighs, pale bufft 



* In the above interesting communication, I must call my reader's atten- 

 tion to the fact of the bird eating the insects when upon wing ; a habit 

 also seen, and much more constantly, in the genus JElaniis, of which Elanus 

 furcatus is the type. 



D 



