BIRDS OF PREY 145 



state. He makes a nice pet, for he does not attack 

 your hands ferociously with bill and claws like some 

 of the others do, and when he is in full feather, as 

 one looks at him, perched on one's finger, he is a 

 handsome-looking bird a true falcon, every inch of 

 him, although some writers have placed him on the 

 lower form. A great deal has been written about 

 him to little purpose. I am sure of one thing he 

 had in times past the honour of being carried on the 

 fist for hawking purposes. He is a good mouse- 

 hunter, but it must be remembered it is not always 

 a mouse that he clutches when he drops down. His 

 diet, like that of the other members of his tribe, is 

 a varied one. It is a convenient way of settling the 

 question to say that certain of these birds of prey 

 confine their pursuit almost exclusively to a few 

 creatures of a particular class : and probably it is 

 satisfactory to those who state it to be so. That the 

 kestrel does a great amount of good, no one well 

 acquainted with him and his habits would doubt for 

 a moment ; but the time comes round when mice 

 are to be found few and far between, and the lizard 

 has gone to ground ; and then he must have something 

 else. 



A curious thing about the mouse tribe is that 

 there is sure to be a very abundant supply where 



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