KESTREL. 59 
He returned to the charge again and again. I ascertained 
it beyond a doubt, as I afterwards shot him.” 
In spring the Kestrel frequently takes possession of the 
nest of a crow or a magpie, in which to deposit its eggs. 
Sometimes these birds build in high rocks, or on old 
towers, and among the ruins of buildings, laying four, and 
occasionally five eggs, about one inch seven lines long, by 
one inch three lines across, mottled all over with dark 
reddish brown, and sometimes with blotches of reddish 
brown upon a pale reddish white ground. The fifth egg 
has been known to weigh several grains less than either of 
those previously deposited, and it has also less colouring 
matter spread over the shell than the others; both effects 
probably occasioned by the constitutional exhaustion the 
bird has sustained in her previous efforts. The young 
are hatched about the end of April or the beginning of 
May, and are covered for some time with a yellowish 
white down. 
Among the numerous interesting communications on 
British Birds which have appeared in Mr. Loudon’s Maga- 
zine of Natural History from the pen of Charles Waterton, 
EKsq., and from his own observations, is one on the habits 
ef the Windhover, in which the value of the mice-destroy- 
ing propensities of this friend to the agriculturist is clearly 
pointed out. 
The Kestrel is too common in this country to render 
necessary an enumeration of the counties in which it has 
been observed. It is well known in Ireland, where it 
breeds on rocks and in trees. It is common in Scotland, 
and on its western and northern islands. From the works 
of northern Naturalists we learn that the Kestrel inhabits 
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Lapland, and Siberia; and 
from thence southward over the continent of Europe gene- 
