36o THE KESTREL 



Falcons in our country \vere it not for the prejudice and 

 ignorant ideas of so many of our gamekeepers and 

 farmers. In Scotland the former are becoming much 

 more aware of the harmlessness and the usefulness of 

 the Kestrel. Considering the fact that the creatures 

 forming its principal food are mice, it is strange that our 

 agriculturalists have not valued its services sooner. The 

 gracefulness of its flight makes it an interesting point in 

 a landscape. It is as well known to country children in 

 our Southern counties as is the Cuckoo. If their nest is 

 robbed before the full number of eggs is laid the pair 

 will remove such eggs as are left to the next suitable 

 empty nest they can find and proceed with their family 

 duties there. The Kestrel is a pleasanter bird to keep 

 as a pet than others of his family ; it is easily tamed, and 

 afterwards can be kept at liberty, as it will come to call 

 or whistle if it is fed regularly at the same time and 

 place. The late Lord Lilford, w-ho'knew more practically 

 about Falcons than most ornithologists said : " I cannot 

 altogether acquit the Kestrel of an occasional bit of 

 poaching; a small Partridge or Pheasant astray in the 

 grass is no doubt too tempting a morsel to be resisted, 

 but any petty larceny of this sort may well be condoned 

 on account of the great number of field-mice and voles 

 destroyed by these birds." In Spain its food consists 

 chiefly of beetles. 



A great many of our Kestrels leave us at the approach 

 of winter when the food they like best is too hard to find. 



The Kestrel is about the same size as the Hobby, 

 but is a slenderer bird, and its tail is longer. The tail 

 is. of a beautiful grey colour and extends far beyond the 

 tips of the wings. Near its extremity it is adorned with 



