reassemble to commence their remarkable performances, which are continued through the 

 night. These consist in a sort of aerial evolution with which these birds amuse themselves; 

 they fly in a straight line to a fixed point, from which they return, and follow continually 

 nearly the same route, never passing certain limits in their flight to and fro. 



" The large area of the botanical gardens at Odessa is a locality which they particularly 

 affect to carry on these evolutions, probably because, failing better-wooded localities in this 

 neighbourhood, these gardens serve as a refuge during the night. It is generally on warm 

 evenings with a clear sky that they perform these flights. The individuals forming the flock 

 seldom observe any but the right direction ; they do not fly very close, but at distances apart, at 

 the side or above each other. Their flight is soft, and they often sail without moving the wings. 

 Arrived at a certain point they turn rapidly, describing an acute angle. At the commencement 

 they fly very high ; but towards the evening they descend by degrees, and finish by descending so 

 low that they can be reached by a shot. After having continued these evolutions some hours, 

 the whole flock goes to rest, choosing trees which stand in close proximity. Here they keep as 

 thickly together as possible ; and I have seen twenty or thirty together perched on a tree of seven 

 years' growth, occupying chiefly the crown and large branches of the tree. They show so little 

 fear that they may be easily approached, particularly when one has not fired a gun. After having 

 rested about half an hour, they recommence their flight, which does not cease before dusk, when 

 they seek their quarters for the night. The whole flock appear to be guided by some particular 

 instinct ; for they wait until two or three individuals proceed towards some tree, and then the 

 whole, as if by signal, pitch on the same tree, which is covered with them. Their numbers are 

 sometimes so great that they cannot find room, and utter loud cries while disputing for the best 

 places. I have often got a dozen birds by firing into such a cloud of them, not counting the 

 wounded which escaped. I have often been astonished by the disproportionate numbers of 

 males and females. Once, out of eleven killed, but three were females ; and on another occasion 

 only two females out of nine. In the air I have also always counted more males than females. 



" In the botanical gardens of Odessa are some dense conifers about 9 feet high, standing 

 close together, where these birds love to roost. I have tried to drive them from here by repeated 

 shots several times the same evening, but they always returned. 



" These aerial excursions which we describe, are often continued to May, when these birds 

 disperse to undertake the work of nidification 



" Their food consists chiefly of all sorts of insects ; and I have often found their stomachs 

 full of ants and coleoptera living together. The Red-legged Falcon seizes on the wing with ease 

 the large species of grasshoppers, locusts, and Neuroptera, such as Gryllus, Libellula, and JEschna. 

 Its proportionally long feet are of great service to it in doing this. It also searches amongst 

 the droppings of homed cattle for scarabsei of the genus Onthophaga. 



" It is stated in several works that this Falcon sometimes catches small birds. I think these 

 are exceptional cases. I myself know of no instance, and I know that small birds exhibit no 

 fear of it. On the other hand, I have sometimes found in their stomachs remains of small 

 lizards. I can state another fact, viz. that they often use the nest of the Magpie. In the 

 country of Kowalewka, on the Bug, I found three nests occupied by this Hawk, the construction 

 of which left no doubt as to their having originally belonged to Magpies 



