THE KESTEEL 



81 



In general, however, it troubles itself little about feathered prey, unless it can 

 pick up a very young pheasant or partridge, as is indeed seen by the conduct of the 

 sparrows and other small birds. If a sparrow-hawk, merlin, or hobby should appear in 

 sight, the little birds are at once in an uproar, shrieking, chattering, darting from place 

 to place, and expressing their alarm in a thousand ways. But when a Kestrel comes into 

 view, they display hardly any uneasiness, and do not suffer themselves to be disturbed by 

 its presence. SwaUows, however, trusting to their speed of wing, are very fond of mobbing 

 the Kestrel, and are so impertinent 

 that even a single swallow has been 

 seen suddenly to turn the tables 

 on a Kestrel which was pursuing 

 it, and to attack its astonished 

 opponent with equal skiU and 

 audacity. On one occasion when 

 a Kestrel had caught a sparrow, 

 its cries took the attention of a 

 number of swallows, which made 

 a united attack, and forced the 

 hawk to release its frightened but 

 unhurt victim. 



With the aid of a good tele- 

 scope, every movement of the bird 

 may be discovered as it hangs in 

 the air, and the sight is a very 

 interesting one. Its wings keep 

 up a continual shivering, its 

 widely spread tail is occasionally 

 moved so as to suit the slight 

 changes of the breeze, the spirited 

 little head is in perpetual motion, 

 and the dark-brown eyes gleam 

 with animation as they keep their 

 restless watch. It seems from 

 various observations that each 

 Kestrel has its regular beat or 

 hunting-grounds, and may be 

 observed punctually repairing to 

 the same spot at the same hour, 

 much after the manner of the 

 golden eagle. 



The Kestrel is known by 

 various names in different parts 

 of the country. Its most common 

 name is Windhover, in allusion 

 to its peculiar mode of flight. 

 For the same reason it is termed 

 Stannel, Stand-gall, or Stand-gale, 

 and has also obtained the title of 

 Vanner-hawk. 



The nest of the Kestrel is generally placed upon the topmost bough of some lofty tree, 

 although it is sometimes found upon a ledge of some precipitous cliff, should the bird have 

 taken up its residence in a mountainous country. Many of these birds have built their 

 nests upon the rocky heights of Dovedale in Derbyshire, and may be seen hovering in 

 mid-air near the spot where their young are nourished. The nest itself is a very simple 

 construction of sticks and moss ; and the bird is so averse to trouble that it often takes 

 possession of the deserted nest of the carrion crow. I have several times been greatly 

 2. G 





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KESTREL.— Tm?! unculus Alaudarius. 



