122 IN BIRD- LAND 



later I again examined the trap and found only a 

 portion of the rat's tail, a few bones and the feet 

 which the Kestrel had left. I do not know 

 whether a Kestrel would attack an animal of the 

 size of a rat unless it was powerless to defend itself 

 like the one just mentioned ; but if they do, this 

 would further show that they are great friends to 

 farmers, as smaller rodents, such as mice and 

 shrews, are known to be their chief food. 



Landowners on the north side of London must, I 

 think, be ignorant of the immense amount of good 

 these birds do, for the gentry appear to allow all 

 to be shot that happen to show themselves. Last 

 spring a pair of Kestrels took up their abode in 

 the fields round about my home, and just when I 

 was hoping they would rear a brood of young, an 

 unknowing labourer shot them ; and not being able 

 to dispose of such a delicacy, he himself ate them 

 both ! These Kestrels must have been ex- 

 ceptionally tender, otherwise the man must have 

 had a strong digestion, for this species of fowl is 

 one of the last that one would voluntarily choose 

 to dine upon. 



On the day of writing this, however, I have seen 

 a pair of Kestrels in a neighbouring field, and I 

 therefore hope that, at all events, these may be 

 allowed to remain, if only for the purpose of adding 



