120 BIRD-LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



own observations extend, and we have never 

 missed a chance of learning something at every 

 possible opportunity, we are inclined to the 

 opinion that, so far as British birds are concerned, 

 and the groups of which those species may be 

 regarded as representative, all birds, with the 

 exception of the Passeres, carry their legs during 

 normal flight beneath the tail or pointing astern. 

 The other day we had a capital opportunity of 

 observing a Kestrel through a powerful binocular. 

 The bird was hovering directly overhead, and 

 several times the legs were dropped as if pre- 

 paratory to a swoop downwards. Each time the 

 legs, without any possibility of the slightest doubt, 

 were brought from behind and under the tail. 

 Birds of prey, however, at the actual moment of 

 striking bring their legs forward, as we have 

 repeatedly observed in the case of the Sparrow 

 Hawk. On the other hand, we have never yet 

 come across an instance suggesting that any 

 Passerine species carried the legs during flight 

 otherwise than forward, concealed under the 

 plumage of the belly and flanks. We have had 

 several exceptional opportunities of confirming 

 this statement so far as it concerns Rooks, Jack- 



