BIRDS OF PREY. 



BIRDS of prey are so called from feeding only on animals : 

 they have a hooked beak, strong feet, and very sharp claws. 



Some birds of this group are used in falconry, so called 

 because several species of falcon are employed in the sport : 

 others, as the owls, are used to attract small birds to the barn- 

 floor trap, and rooks to the decoy-hut. There seems little 

 probability that bird-fanciers should wish to keep such birds 

 as these in the house. Two species, however, appear to merit 

 distinction, the kestril and the little owl. 



THE KESTRIL. 



Falco Tinnunculus, LINN^US ; La Cresserelle, BUFFON ; Der Thurmfalke, 

 BECHSTEIN. 



ITS size is that of a turtle-dove, its length fourteen inches, 

 including the tail, which measures six, and two-thirds of which 

 is covered by the folded wings. The wax, the irides, and feet 

 are yellow. In general this is a handsome bird; but the 

 male, as hi all birds, of prey, differs from the female, not less 

 in the body being a third smaller than in the colours ot his 

 plumage. The top of the head is of a fine light grey, the 



