The Kestrel. isj 



islands that skirt the western shores of »Scotland ; in Ireland he is said to be not 

 qnite so common. In Northants Lord Lilford considered the Kestrel to be a 

 Slimmer migrant, not to be seen before March, and departing again towards the 

 end of October, a few remaining in mild winters. There is no doubt that the 

 majority of our Kestrels leave us before the commenceinent of winter for the 

 south, and that those that winter with us are chiefly arrivals from the north of 

 Europe. The Kestrel is largely insectivorous, so that the scarcit}' of its favourite 

 food during the winter in this country would naturall}' induce it to wander off to 

 warmer climes where insects could be obtained. However, mice, voles, and small 

 birds are also comprised in its menu, but in .severe winters the Kestrels left with 

 us must be often pushed to find a meal, and during a deep snow the writer has 

 noticed them preying upon Starlings, which being half stan-ed themselves were 

 easily caught. In mild winters Kestrels feed almost entirel}- upon the common 

 " clock " beetles, as the writer has proved by dissection. In hot summer weather 

 they capture numerous tipitla — " daddy-longlegs " — and maj' be seen hovering over 

 and pouncing upon them in the dry bents ; grasshoppers, caterpillars, earth-worms, 

 frogs, and lizards are also prej-ed upon ; cockchafers, too, are largely devoured, 

 being caught in the air with their feet, and eaten while they are on wing. At 

 the time the Kestrel has a hungry brood to cater for, its nest is a dangerous 

 neighbour to the Pheasant coops, as it will not hesitate to carrj^ off the 3'oung 

 Pheasants, and it will occasionally seize young Partridges; but having admitted so 

 much as this, the writer would confidently appeal for its general protection as a 

 useful bird, of much service to the agriculturist, besides being a great ornament 

 to our landscapes. 



In captivity the Kestrel bcomes ver}- docile and affectionate ; one the writer 

 possessed that was allowed its full libert}', " flying at hack,"' as falconers tenn it, 

 about the house, would fly across a large meadow to meet him, perching upon his 

 shoulder, evincing the greatest delight b}- screaming loudh-. Knowing the time 

 the greenhouse was usually watered, the bird would be on the watch to fly in at 

 one of the windows, when, settling on the ground, he would raise his feathers, 

 shake his wings, and look up, plainl}- asking to be watered, and was. then indulged 

 in a shower-bath through the rose of the watering can. In his extreme 3-outh he 

 had been brought up wdth a kitten for his companion, and the two friends had 

 many a game at hide-and-seek among the flower-beds on the lawn, the Hawk 

 pouncing out upon the kitten, the kitten in tuni making sallies upon the Hawk. 

 When the Kestrel was fed he would first hover his wings over his food, screaming 

 loudly, and the kitten, understanding the meaning of his cries. Avould often rush 

 up and rob him of his meal. 



