Birds of Britain 



them away. The young birds then take the hint, and leave 

 the old folks at home, to wander forth all over the country 

 and earn their living; many come down to the shore and 

 emigrate, while others wander about till they find a suitable 

 hunting ground in which to pass the winter. 



With the advent of spring they have in their turn to 

 seek a permanent home ; perhaps they will meet with an 

 older bird who has lost his mate during the winter and has 

 a home ready, or perhaps they will inadvertently try to 

 settle near an old eyrie and be driven away, but eventually 

 a place will be found, and the inhabitants of a new district 

 will be delighted, if they have eyes for Nature, by the 

 charming ways and flight of their new visitors. 



The adult male on the upper parts is of a deep chestnut, 

 spotted or barred with black ; under parts pale buff, striped 

 with black. The head and nape are bluish grey, as is also 

 the tail, which has a broad subterminal black band and is 

 tipped with white. The female is more barred on the back 

 and has the head brown, striped with darker. The tail is 

 rufous, barred with black and slightly tinged with grey. 

 The young resemble the female. Length 14 in. ; wing 

 9-5 in. 



THE LESSER KESTREL 



Falco cenchris, Naumann 



Very few examples of this small Hawk have been taken 

 in this country. It is a summer visitor to Southern Europe, 

 but towards the east it breeds in higher latitudes. 



218 



