84 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 
beauty, and at one time were much in request by 
falconers, probably largely on account of their 
appearance, for they lack the power and spirit of 
the peregrine. Grey and black and white and 
black are distinctive colours of the various 
species, which are inhabitants of northern 
regions. 
The KestreL, or WIND-HOVER, is one of 
the commonest birds of prey, much and most 
unjustly persecuted by gamekeepers. Like the 
peregrine falcon, the kestrel does not build a 
nest, but takes possession of the deserted nests 
of crows and magpies, or deposits its eggs on the 
bare earth of a recess in some cliff or quarry 
which is overhung by a projecting shelf of rock. 
Occasionally a hole in a tree is chosen, the eggs 
then resting on the rotten wood at the bottom. 
That the kestrel is of a more confiding disposi- 
tion than the majority of its tribe seems to be 
proved by the fact that it will often deposit its 
eggs in nesting-boxes, if these are placed in suit- 
able spots. 
The food of the kestrel appears to consist 
By permission of Percy Leigh Pemberton, Esg. a mainly of mice, but frogs, earthworms, grass- 
PEREGRINE FALCON hoppers, cockchafers, and other beetles are also 
A favourite in falconry taken. Kestrels will also eat dead animals, as 
is proved by the fact that they 
are not seldom found dead 
from eating poisoned rats laid 
out for magpies. One in- 
stance is on record where a PA 
kestrel was taken with its ror 
claws entangled in the fur of 
a stoat, which fiercely de- 
fended itself. 
Of the Pyemy Fatcons 
there are several species, 
ranging from the eastern 
Himalaya, through Tenas- 
serim and Burma, to the 
Malay Islands and the Phil- 
ippines. The smallest is the 
RED-LEGGED FaALconetT of 
Nepal, Sikhim, and Burma. 
It feeds largely upon insects, 
such as dragon-flies, beetles, 
and butterflies, hawking them ant 
with a swallow-like speed. Photo ty 
tes ; ; : 
Ottomar Anschiits | [Berlin 
SPECTACLED OWL 
Occasionally the members of ; é , 
e A South American bird with a somewhat remarkable coloration 
this little group are said to 
