THE KESTREL. 255 
in hot pursuit of the high-flying beetles long after dusk. Caterpillars and 
other larvze are also eaten by the Kestrel, which does not disdain to alight 
on the ground and draw the earthworms out of their holes. 
Mice, however, are always its favourite diet, and as the multiplication of 
these little pests is much increased by the abundant food which they find in 
cultivated grounds and stacks and barns, the Kestrel has learnt to attach 
itself to human residences, instead of becoming self-banished, as is the case 
with almost every other hawk. There is hardly a village where the Kestrel 
may not be seen hovering with outspread wings, and surveying the fields 
below. 
With the aid of a good telescope, every movement of the bird may be dis- 
covered as it hangs in the air, and the sight is a very interesting one. Its 
wings keep up a continual shivering, its widely-spread tail is occasionally 
moved so as to suit the slight changes of the breeze, the spirited little head 
is in perpetual motion, and the dark brown eyes gleam with animation as 
they keep their restless watch. It seems from various observations that each 
Kestrel has its regular beat or hunting-grounds, and may be observed 
punctually repairing to the same spot at the same hour, much after the 
manner of the golden eagle. 
The Kestrel is known by various names in different parts of the country. 
Its most common name is Windhover, in allusion to its peculiar mode of 
flight. For the same reason it is termed Stannel, Stand-gall, or Stand-gale, 
and has also obtained the title of Vanner Hawk. 
The nest of the Kestrel is generally placed upon the topmost bough of 
some lofty tree, although it is sometimes found upon a ledge of some preci- 
pitous cliff, should the bird have taken up its residence in a mountainous 
country. Many of these birds have built their nests upon the rocky heights 
of Dovedale in Derbyshire, and may be seen hovering in mid-air near the 
spot where their young are nourished. The nest itself is a very simple con- 
struction of sticks and moss; and the bird is so averse to trouble that it 
often takes possession of the deserted nest of the carrion crow. I have 
several times been greatly surprised in my nest-hunting expeditions, by find- 
ing the ruddy eggs of the Kestrel lying in the nest which I thought only to 
be that of the crow. This bird also deposits its eggs in the crannies of old 
ruined buildings and lofty towers, but I have never as yet been fortunate 
enough to find them in such a situation. 
The colour of the male Kestrel is briefly as follows. The head, cheeks, 
and back of the neck are ashen grey, marked with narrow Tongitudinal 
streaks of deeper grey. The back and upper portions of the body, together 
with the tertiaries and wing-coverts, are bright ruddy fawn, dotted with little 
triangular black spots, caused by the extreme tips of the feathers being 
black. The larger quill feathers of the wing are black-grey, marked with a 
paler hue; the under portions of the body are pale reddish fawn, marked 
with dark streaks on the chest and spotted on the abdomen ; the thighs and 
under tail-coverts are of the sane hue as the abdomen, but without the spots. 
The upper surface of the tail is of the same hue as the head, marked with a 
single broad band of black near its extremity and tipped with white, while 
its under surface is grey-white, marked with a number of narrow irregular 
bars of a darker hue, in addition to the black band and white tip, which are 
the same as on the upper surface. The legs, toes, cere, and orbits of the 
eyes are yellow, the claws are black, and the beak is slaty blue, deepening 
towards the point. 
The females and young males are differently marked, and are altogether of 
a darker and more ruddy hue. The head and neck are ruddy fawn, marked 
with many transverse darker stripes, and the back, upper portions, and tajl 
