KESTREL. 47 



intermediate form between the central-southern race and the semiarctic 

 one^ would have to bear the name of Falco tinnunculus var. tinnunculus- 

 interstinctus, always supposing that the type of Linnaeus was a semiarctic 

 form. If the facts of nature are complicated, it is perhaps unreasonable 

 to expect that their scientific nomenclature should be otherwise. 



From its habit of hovering in the air, the Kestrel is probably the best- 

 known and most easily recognized of all British raptorial birds. This 

 peculiarity has gained for it the colloquial name of Windhover. It hangs 

 in the air, poised over one spot, with outspread wings and tail, as if sus- 

 pended by a thread. Seldom, indeed, can one take a walk in the country 

 without making a passing acquaintance with this graceful little Falcon. 

 A favourite locality for the Windhover is in rocky valleys : the dales of the 

 Peak of Derbyshire are one of its favourite haunts, where it nestles in the 

 lofty limestone clifl's. Amongst all the dales and moors and rocks of 

 Yorkshire its pretty gambols in the air, its wonderful evolutions and 

 graceful movements, form one of the most charming accessories of the 

 wild impressive scenery of many parts of this county. 



Easily distinguished, indeed, it is from all others of its order ; and its 

 presence is readily detected as it hovers in the air 



"As if let down from the lieaveu there 

 By a vie-rtless silken thread," 



now advancing towards you, flying up wind, some thirty feet above the 

 earth, its wings flapping hurriedly or held perfectly motionless. Now it 

 is directly above you ; you see its broad head turning restlessly from side 

 to side ; the wings seem in a perpetual quiver, and the broad tail is ex- 

 panded to its fullest extent. Now it glides slowly forward for a few yards, 

 pauses for a moment intently surveying the ground beneath, then once 

 more, with a few vigorous flaps of its wings, darts ofl' in a sidelong direc- 

 tion, and poises itself in the air as before. Again it proceeds a little dis- 

 tance, hovers, and bounds forward. Then, by describing a broad circle, 

 it turns completely round, and flies rapidly down wind, but soon suddenly 

 stops and hovers again. Something has arrested its attention; a 

 mouse is below it in the meadow-grass ; and, closing its wings, it drops 

 like a stone, throwing out its wings again just before it reaches the 

 earth, hovers a moment, clutches its prey, and as rapidly mounts the air, 

 and bears off in direct and rapid flight to some quiet haunt, where it can 

 devour its prey in peace. Sometimes you may see it at a stupendous 

 height, wheeling round and round in circles ; and when passing from one 

 place to another it usually does so at a considerable height. 



Although in most parts of Great Britain the Kestrel may be observed 

 from time to time during the winter months, still it is a regular migratory 

 species, and most of our British Kestrels leave us at the approach of 



