56 ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 



seen, and about the middle of the month their 

 numbers have much increased. They may be 

 then heard at all hours of the day ; and he who 

 loves to study Nature in the fields may observe 

 them now on soaring wing, high above in the 

 blue expanse of heaven, now hovering near the 

 earth, ready to pounce upon the luckless mouse, 

 and now inspecting the deserted nests of crows 

 and magpies, in order to secure a commodious re- 

 treat wherein to perform their approaching incu- 

 bation. Allowing, on an average, four young ones 

 to the nest, there must have been bred here 

 ninety-six windhover hawks last summer: add 

 the parent birds, and we shall have, in all, one 

 hundred and forty-four. Scarcely five of these 

 birds were seen here from Michaelmas to the lat- 

 ter end of January. 



" The periodical disappearance of the windho- 

 ver from its breeding place might give rise to 

 much ornithological inquiry; but I suspect that 

 when every circumstance shall have been duly 

 weighed, we shall still be in the dark with regard 

 to the true cause of its departure. The want of 

 food cannot be supposed to force it away ; for food 

 the most congenial to its appetite is found here in 

 great abundance at the very time when it deserts 

 us. Neither can supposed inclemency of weather 

 be alleged in support of its migration, as the 



