RAPACIOUS BIRDS. 75 



windhover), one of the most common of our birds 

 of prey. It is handsome in shape and plumage, 

 and graceful in its motions, and is best known 

 by its remarkable habit of poising, or, as it were, 

 anchoring itself over a particular spot, despite the 

 wind ; whence it has obtained its popular names 

 of " windhoverer," or, hoverer in the wind; 

 and stan gel, or " stand-gale." While it is hover- 

 ing, the motion of its wings, when they move, is 

 exceedingly rapid ; its head, at the same time, is 

 bent downwards and turned sideways, so that the 

 eye can command a wide circle of the ground over 

 which the bird is hovering. Its sight is so acute 

 that not a mouse can stir within range but the 

 kestrel pounces on it, with almost certain accuracy. 

 It also kills small birds, as the following anecdote 

 proves. One of them was observed to seize a 

 young blackbird, just able to fly, which it was in 

 the act of carrying off in its talons, when the old 

 blackbird gave chase, with] oud cries and apparent 

 determination to rescue her young one. The 

 kestrel, having allowed her to approach un- 

 molested, in an instant dropped the young bird, 

 and as instantaneously caught up the screaming 

 parent, and carried her clear away. 



In the ' Zoologist' for 1853, there is a curious 

 tale of a cat and a kestrel. The bird, being kept 

 in a garden, with his wing cut, contracted a 



