THE KESTREL 171 



chattering, and this time found there were two 

 strange hawks visiting the trained ones, or rather 

 visiting Jim, for they paid no attention to the 

 sparrow hawks, and looked only at their relative. 

 First one came down, and then the other, and 

 advanced with fluffed-out feathers, and tails 

 spread fan-wise, to where he sat on his perch. 

 I was too far off to see for certain what they were, 

 but thought it was an old hen and a cock in the 

 first year's plumage. For several minutes they 

 continued to chatter and scold, looking very quaint 

 as they ran about on their little short legs. But, 

 except for screaming in answer once or twice, 

 Jim took little notice of them, so that I was 

 totally unprepared for the next episode. The 

 bigger bird suddenly went straight at James, 

 knocked him head over heels off his perch, and 

 proceeded to punish him severely. It was so 

 unlocked for, and so unwarranted, that though 

 Jim appeared to be doing his best to give as good 

 as he got, I rushed up and drove the strangers 

 off. They came several times afterwards, but I 

 did not see them attempt to attack him again. 



In concluding this chapter I would say to 

 those who have control of woods and shootings, 

 Do not let your kestrels be destroyed; they will 

 do you little if any harm, but much good, and 

 if you love wild nature will reward you with 

 many a charming sight. 



(The kestrel, Falco tinnunculus, Linn., is a 

 widely distributed species, ranging throughout Europe, 



