168 WILD LIFE IN' CHINA. 



With F. tinunculus, the kestrel, we must leave this most 

 attractive genus, although there are others known to various 

 parts of the Empire, the Peking and Amur falcons, for 

 example. The kestrel, however, serves well to bring this all too 

 incomplete notice to a close, for he is one of the best known 

 of our birds of prey. He may frequently be seen at The Hills 

 where his old English name of windhover is shown to be as 

 appropriate in China as it is at home, for he hangs hovering 

 in one spot here just as he does there, his wings a-quiver, 

 his eye searching the ground beneath for something on which 

 to drop. Sometimes he may be a hundred and fifty feet 

 high, perhaps : then after his quivering halt, he will circle 

 round in a spiral descent to only half that height or less, 

 and again hang motionless but for the tremulous wings. 

 The mere fact that kestrels are seen to be examining the 

 surface of the ground beneath them indicates that their food 

 is to be found there, which is, indeed, the case, the bird 

 taking fieldmice, voles, etc. and birds which are to be found in 

 similar positions, larks, quail, buntings, and so on. In this 

 way it doubtless does some damage amongst young game, 

 partridges, grouse, pheasants, etc. which will account for 

 the inimical feeling towards the kestrel shown by keepers 

 and game preservers at home. In real truth, however, the 

 balance of the evidence is in favour and not against the 

 kestrel, and one of the results of the plague scare now rampant 

 in Suffolk is the statement, constantly being reiterated, that 

 kestrels and other vermin destroyers should be left alone. 

 Old country people are hinting that the return of plague 

 after so many centuries is something in the nature of a 

 "judgement." I have seen kestrels pursue quails which I 

 have put up at various times. 



A trait characteristic of the eagle is not unknown in the 

 kestrel — his non-interference with birds which are his 

 immediate neighbours. The eagle goes afield to hunt. The 

 kestrel remains on patronizing terms with the little birds 

 living near its home. It would be extremely interesting to 

 know exactly how this "law of the jungle" first came into 

 force, who made it, and why. 



The kestrel may be known by the closer approach to 

 copper colour shown by his back feathers and wing coverts. 

 His outspread tail is of a slatj' blue with a broad black bar 

 near the tips, the actual tips being white. His breast and 

 underparts are of a rather dull shade of brown, with the 

 black markings longitudinal. The primaries are dark 

 chocolate with black bars. There is a lesser kestrel perhaps 

 a little more handsome. 



