CHAPTER VIII 

 THE KESTREL 



WE must now turn to that second wood- 

 land hawk to which reference was made 

 in the previous chapter, namely the 

 kestrel. It is a dainty bird, with the kittenish ex- 

 pression, large dark eyes, and long wings of the true 

 falcons; indeed, it is a miniature falcon, though 

 without the dash and courage that distinguishes 

 its noble relatives. As has already been pointed 

 out, many people, who know little of hawks, con- 

 fuse it with the sparrow hawk, though there is 

 no reason why they should, for the two birds 

 are not in the least alike, belonging as they do 

 to two distinct types, the sparrow hawk being 

 a short-winged hawk, whereas the kestrel is a 

 long-winged one. Even in flight they are quite 

 dissimilar. The sparrow hawk glides by close to 

 the ground, the kestrel hovers high over woodland 

 and meadow. 



If you see a dark speck in the sky, which 

 closer attention shows to be a bird poised against 

 the wind, you may be sure it is a kestrel, for 

 no other small hawk has discovered the art of 



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