THE KESTREL. 55 



former locality, was captured in a cottage, which it entered by 

 dashing through a pane of the window, in sparrow-hawk fashion, 

 after a yellow bunting. Tins merlin was a female, as was another 

 sent to him, which had been shot there, after having twice " put 

 down" a ring-dove or wood-quest. This bird, though double its 

 own weight, would have been killed at the second stoop, had not 

 a sportsman, who witnessed the whole occurrence, shot the mer- 

 lin, when in the act of seizing its prey. 



THE KESTREL. 



Wind-hover. 



Falco tinnuneuhts, Linn. 



Is common and indigenous to suitable localities through- 

 out the island. 



The chosen locality for the eyrie of the peregrine falcon is 

 always of such a nature as is suited to the kestrel, which we are 

 almost certain to find there, be the place inland or marine ; but 

 much more humble cliffs than the larger bird would deign to 

 occupy, are tenanted by the smaller one. Throughout the whole 

 range of noble basaltic precipices in the north-east of Ireland, I 

 have remarked the presence of the kestrel. Where there are no 

 cliffs, its nest is placed in ruined buildings, church towers,* trees, 

 and occasionally in pigeon-houses. This bird is but a poor 

 architect When trees are selected for its eyrie, the ruined nest 

 of other species (generally of the magpie, or some one of the 

 Corvidce) is used for the purpose ; and " among rocks or ruins it 

 seems to make no nest, but lays its eggs on the natural or arti- 

 ficial floor."t A kestrel, after having been kept for four years 

 at Castle Warren (co. Cork), laid eggs for the first time in April, 

 1848, and when four were deposited in the nest, commenced sit- 



* The only place of this kind in the neighbourhood of Belfast, that I know to be 

 selected for the purpose, is the tower of Ballylesson church, which alone, of the many 

 edifices of this description in our populous neighbourhood, contains a set of musical 

 bells. (Note of 1838.) 



f Mr. J. Poole. 



