90 



A YEAR OF SPORT AND NATURAL HISTORY. 



when the leaf is well on the trees, and during its nesting confines 

 itself very much to catching insects, beetles, cockchafers, moths, 

 &c., it is comparatively little in evidence, and manages to escape 

 the gamekeeper's wiles. In the autumn it is often seen in chase 

 of larks, and by October it has left this land. In appearance the 

 Hobby is a miniature Peregrine, and as a pair of these birds toy 



THE KESTREL. 



about over the top of the oak trees in their hunt for beetles and 

 cockchafers, the white throat and black moustaches are very 

 noticeable, as shown by our artist. 



The Kestrel, the " Windhover," is the most familiar British 

 Falcon. The Kestrel, like the Hobby, is fond of insect-catching, 

 though, like its near relation, the barn owl, it largely lives on mice. 

 The Kestrel is an excellent instance of a point which I have tried 



