20 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



THE FEMALE KESTREL. 



THIS beautiful bird is distinguished from every 

 other Hawk by its variegated plumage ; the bill is 

 blue ; cere and feet yellow ; eyes dark, surrounded 

 with a yellow skin ; head rust coloured, streaked 

 with black ; there is a light spot behind each eye ; 

 the back and wing coverts are rusty brown, and 

 elegantly marked w r ith numerous undulated bars of 

 black ; the breast, belly, and thighs are of a pale 

 reddish buff, with dusky streaks pointing down- 

 wards ; vent plain ; the tail is marked by a pretty 

 broad dark ash-coloured bar near the end; a num- 

 ber of smaller ones, the same colour, occupy the 

 remaining part ; the tip is pale. 



