CHAPTER IX 



About the Kestrel 



THE Kestrel, or Wind-hover, is probably the one British hawk with 

 which the people of this country generally are really acquainted ; for 

 it is so widely distributed, and is so conspicuous in its unique habit 

 of hanging motionless in the air, as to have attracted the attention of almost 

 every one. 



In fact, in many districts, the only conditions under which the inhabitants 

 have ever seen a hawk is when it is thus ' hovering ' over the fields ; and so, 

 merely putting it down as ' a hawk,' they have come to the conclusion that 

 it is characteristic of all hawks to hover. 



This, however, is not the case, and although the Buzzard may hover for a 

 few seconds over a hedge where a rabbit is hiding ; or a Merlin may do so in 

 like manner over the spot where her quarry has ' put in ' ; the Kestrel is the 

 only British hawk which habitually hovers whilst on the look-out for its prey. 

 For the Kestrel, known in the ancient days as the ' Knaves' hawk,' is 

 indeed a poor flier, and relies upon the impetus which it derives from dropping 

 from a height to enable it to catch such fast flying birds as starlings, or meadow 

 pipits. 



As a general rule, the Kestrel does not trouble about pursuing such elusive 

 quarry, and subsists largely upon beetles, frogs, earthworms, and the like ; 

 although when its eggs are hatched, and there is an incessantly hungry family 

 to feed, it must needs exert itself to secure more substantial items, and it is 

 then that it tackles the more dignified fowl. 



Such a variety of views have at various times been expressed as to the 

 amount of ' good ' or ' harm ' Kestrels do to mankind that it would be rather 

 difficult, without some first-hand knowledge of the bird, to form any definite 

 opinion as to its manner and means of subsistence. 



There are those who affirm that it feeds almost entirely on beetles, grass- 

 hoppers, or the remains of any dead creatures that it may find ; and on the 

 other hand there are others who maintain that its diet consists of mice, voles, 

 and occasionally a young bird of some small species. 



Then, of course, the gamekeepers or many of them tell us that the bird 



85 



