_jg 6 Practical Game Preserving. 



however, not always the innocent bird, as far as game is 

 concerned, that some would make us believe, and, although 

 jve would not at all advocate any attempts being made 

 with the express aim of taking the kestrel, still it will 

 occasionally turn to harassing young partridges, &c., and 

 thus rightly fall a victim to wiles intended for its congener, 

 the sparrowhawk. For the most part, its food consists of 

 mice, shrews, and a great variety although not great 

 numbers of small birds. Grasshoppers, beetles, and cater- 

 pillars, frogs, lizards, and slowworms, also form a portion 

 of its provender. As far as its haunts are concerned, 

 there is little to say, for it is fairly frequent throughout 

 the country. The kestrel sometimes travels far afield to 

 secure a nesting place suited to its habits, but there is 

 not much to note respecting its choice of situation for 

 the same. Its other names are " windhover/' " creshawk," 

 " hoverhawk," " stannelhawk," "stonegall." 



The Hen Harrier. This is another fine hawk, frequenting 

 downs, commons, fens, moors, and marshy expanses, being 

 more numerous in such localities than in cultivated or 

 inclosed ones. It preys almost entirely on game of all 

 sorts and on many moor-fowl, but it is an easily-captured 

 bird. It seems a pity such a really handsome creature 

 should ever be destroyed for the sake of a pheasant or 

 two, or the like. 



The Marsh Harrier, which is likewise locally termed 

 "moor buzzard/' "bald buzzard," "harpy duck hawk," 

 " puttock," " marsh hawk," will also occasionally be found 

 in the trap set for other hawks. 



The Short-eared Owl, the Long-eared Owl, and the 



