406 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
specimens, notably a young Falcon obtained from the rocks at 
A bergwessin. 
Hossy, Falco subbuteo.—Very rare in this county. I have 
only seen two stuffed specimens, one a large hen bird which was 
killed near Brecon, and another killed near Nantewilt. 
Marso Harrier, Circus rufus—This bird was formerly 
common on the hills between the Storey Arms and Merthyr. 
There are three beautiful specimens, killed in this county and 
splendidly preserved by Leadbeater, in the possession of Mr. 
David Thomas, of Brecon. 
Hen Harrier, Circus cyaneus.—Now nearly extinct. A pair for 
years nested on the Breconshire side of the river near Nantgwilt, 
Radnorshire, but were at last trapped on account of their extreme 
destructiveness and their nest and eggs taken. I am indebted 
for the above information to a lady, one of the members of the 
Nantgwilt family, herself a keen lover of Nature and a great 
preserver of all wild birds, who kindly showed me the hen bird, 
which had been preserved and was in her possession. She has 
also a specimen each of the Hobby and Merlin, killed at the same 
place, and several Buzzards, which bears out my statement that 
the Buzzard is still far from rare in the county. 
Meru, Falco @salon.—Cannot be considered common. I 
have only seen it once on the wing near Brecon. A friend of 
mine killed one near the town in excellent plumage, and I have 
seen several others stuffed. This beautiful and bold little fellow 
should be let alone; there are plenty of small birds for him, and 
if he does occasionally fly at higher game by all means let him 
have it. Mr. Dilwyn Llewellyn thinks that this hawk is often 
taken on the wing for the male Sparrowhawk, and that it is more 
common than is generally supposed, and his authority is not to 
be slighted. 
KestreEL, Falco tinnunculus.—The English name of Windhover 
seems most appropriate to this common bird, for it is always 
hovering in the air. Many writers assert it is a useful bird, from 
the quantity of mice it destroys; I think, however, that it kills 
what it can. A friend of mine had a nice brood of Pheasants, 
which he put under a hen, and for greater security he put them 
directly in front of his window; day by day they improved in 
size, but decreased in numbers, until they were nearly all gone, 
in spite of careful watching; one day, however, like a flash of 
