50 BRITISH BIRDS. 



Kestrels' eggs go through all the types of the eggs of the true Falcons 

 figured on Plate 4; and, in addition to these, some eggs have the 

 colouring-matter all massed on the larger end of the egg, others have 

 a ground of dull yellowish chestnut with irregular blotches of intense 

 coffee-bi'own, while others are brick-red with a few minute dots of deep 

 brown. Most eggs of this bird, when newly laid, possess a purplish bloom, 

 which, however, soon fades after exposure to the light. The eggs of the 

 Kestrel vary from 1'7 to 1'45 inch in length, and from 1'35 to 1'12 inch 

 in breadth. The female Kestrel when laying does not always deposit an 

 egg each successive day, and sometimes sits upon the first egg as soon as 

 laid. The female bird usually incubates the eggs, although the male is 

 sometimes found upon them. When the nest is approached, the sitting 

 bird silently quits its charge, but sometimes not until the nest is reached, 

 especially if the eggs are coming near to maturity. Throughout the whole 

 season of incubation the male bird may often be seen high in air above 

 his nest, sailing round in circles ; and sometimes he will be joined by his 

 mate. 



Although an easily-tamed bird ^v-hen brought up from the nest, the 

 Kestrel wins but little favour from the falconer, wanting, as it does, the 

 impetuous dash of other members of this group of birds. Still it has been 

 successfully flown at small birds, although the nature of its food in a wild 

 state will efFectually prevent it from ever figuring largelj' as a bird of sport. 



The male Kestrel has the head, lower back, and tail slate-grey, the 

 latter with a broad black band near the end and a white tip, and the head 

 with dusky shaft-streaks ; the rest of the upper parts pale chestnut, 

 with small, black, triangular spots ; the wings are blackish brown, with 

 lighter- coloured edges ; the breast and belly are pale fawn-colour, with 

 dark streaks on the former and dark spots on the latter ; the thighs and 

 under tail-coverts are rufous fawn-colour without spots, and the under 

 surface of the tail is greyish white. Beak blue ; cere and orbits yellow; 

 irides dark brown ; legs and toes yellow; claws black. The female has 

 the whole upper surface reddish brown, barred transversely with bluish 

 black ; the wings are darker than in the male, and the whole underparts 

 are paler. Young males are like the female, but a little paler perhaps, 

 until after the first winter, when they begin to assume the adult plumyage, 

 the blue head being the last to be obtained. Very old females some- 

 times assume the plumage of the male. 



