BRITISH BIRDS. I37 



Madrid, Lord Lilford tells us (Ibis, 1866, n. s. vol. ii. p. 180) that a Peregrine 

 g^enerally took up its abode on the palace-roof in winter, and committed great 

 havoc amongst the Pigeons. As respects the Kestrel, Falco tinnmiculus (Ibis, 

 1865, n. s. vol. i. p. 175), the same writer observes: — "Every church- 

 steeple, belfry, and tower, every town and village, every ruin swarms with 

 them." 



The number to be seen round the Giralda or tower of the Moorish 

 Cathedral of Seville — so called from the vane, que gira (" which turns round ") 

 (Murray's ' Handbook of Spain ') — is also great ; and I very much wish that 

 the authorities of our English Cathedrals would, by protecting these pretty 

 and harmless birds, afford us the pleasure of watching them. There would 

 be little difficulty. In ' Land and Water,' October 23, 1875, p. 322, we find : 

 — " Our Pigeons are just as safe in the heart of the city as the Storks in 

 Holland or the Geese of ancient Rome. There are colonies of them at the 

 Guildhall, the Royal Exchange, and at the Great Eastern Station. Whence 

 they come no one knows ; but their ancestors evidently had taken up their 

 freedom centuries ago. The most audacious city Arab dare not touch them ; 

 and in perfect safety they partake of their favourite food, viz. ' nose-bag ' 

 provender. Those of them which have a taste for art, build in the crevices 

 behind the statues in the British Museum," — but not so numerously as in the 

 Piazza San Marco, Venice, and other cities abroad. If Pigeons are untouched 

 in London, surely poor little Kestrels might dwell in peace on our churches ! 

 Thus every edifice of the kind would be greatly enhanced in interest. That 

 ornithologist who has not seen the numerous Swifts (^Cypselus murarius) 

 chasing each other in circles round the lovely west front of Peterborough 

 Cathedral has a pleasure to come ; so have also those of my readers who 

 may not be familiar with the lofty gyrations of the dozens of the larger species 

 (Cypselus alpinus) round the rich and massive tower of the Cathedral of Berne. 

 The Swifts are as harmless as their flight is beautiful, while the Kestrels are 

 a positive benefit. England has its Society to prevent cruelty to animals ; 

 would that the pen of this writer could prevail on his countrymen to reflect 



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