92 WILD LIFE IN THE TREE TOPS 



the nest, the victim had been secured by the female Kestrel — ^just as when 

 young Sparrow Hawks are almost ready to fly the female begins to himt and 

 capture quarry which the tiny male, except under abnormal circumstances, 

 could not hope to tackle. 



For I saw her returning from the marshes, and, as she drew nearer, 

 noticed that there was something hanging from her talons. This time she 

 came, without the least hesitation, straight on to the nest, and left with the 

 family the body— minus its head — of a partially plucked starling. 



There is but Uttle difference in size between a male and a female Kestrel, 

 so it does not follow that the male would be unable to tackle so strong a 

 bird as a starling, but he had certainly in the past contented himself, as far 

 as my experience went, with lesser fry. 



At this stage in their upbringing the young hawks, with all of their principal 

 feathers in the blood, require an amazing amount of food, and it may be that 

 the male is unable to obtain a sufficient quantity. 



At about this time I noticed too that the parent hawks seenaed imusually 

 anxious as to the safety of their yornig, and on their behalf became possessed 

 of remarkable courage — just as the Hobby, when her yoiuig were about to fly, 

 became so bold. 



On many occasions I watched for several minutes the graceful evolutions 

 of the female as she strove to drive a Carrion Crow from the neighbourhood 

 of her nest. Screaming angrily, she would mount up into the sky, and descend 

 with very creditable force at the crow, throwing up at the instant that she reached 

 him, but never, it seemed, actuaUy striking him with her talons. The crow, 

 noisily voicing his remonstrance, meanwhile spent his time in avoiding the 

 stoops, and in endeavouring to mount up so high as to have the Kestrel at a 

 disadvantage. 



Ultimately he succeeded, and in turn began to stoop at the elusive Kestrel 

 — without much success. 



As the flight — if such harrying of one another may be called a ' flight ' — 

 progressed, the crow's mate, perhaps seeing her companion in difficulties, 

 joined in the fray, and stiU the Kestrel, with two opponents to deal with instead 

 of one, shifted from their attacks with the utmost ease. Doubtless the crows 

 also had a family in the vicinity, for otherwise they would hardly have regarded 

 the presence of the Kestrel so seriously. 



It was not unusual to see the Kestrels dash out from their trees and attack 

 a passing, and quite innocent Heron, which, uttering the most undignified 

 squawks of terror, would twist and dive to avoid their stoops. 



It is strange how the fact of being attacked — no matter by whom — seems 

 to demorahze most birds. One is often inclined to wonder why, for instance, a 

 London pigeon should retire in such fearful haste from the sparrow which is 

 chasing it ! 



