132 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



attracted to pheasant coops by the presence of rats and mice 

 drawn thither by the food prepared for the young birds. Against 

 this may be set the evidence of the head-keeper at Drumlanrig 

 (where Kestrels are preserved by order of the Duke of Buccleuch), 

 who said that in his experience of over thirty years he thought he 

 could remember twice seeing a Kestrel taking a young pheasant. 



It will be a very gratifying result of the present inquiry if it 

 tends to persuade persons interested in game preserving that 

 the Kestrel preys not so much on game as on the vermin of 

 the farm. 



It may be observed, in connection with this question of the 

 Kestrel's habits, that it is rare to find people able to distinguish 

 between one kind of hawk and another. Few of the witnesses 

 before the Committee were able to describe hawks otherwise than 

 as red, blue, brown, or yellow, and it was often impossible to make 

 out what species they intended to indicate. It is one of the 

 peculiarities of the Falconida that their plumage varies according 

 to age and sex. In the southern counties of Scotland the Sparrow- 

 hawk (which does not prey on mice) is generally known as the 

 "blue hawk," and the Kestrel as the "brown" or "red" hawk. 

 But an immature male Sparrowhawk has reddish brown plumage, 

 and an adult male Kestrel a bluish grey head, lower back, and tail. 



Several witnesses deponed to an increase in hawks "since the 

 mice came," but were unable to identify the species. No doubt 

 they were Kestrels, for other species of hawks do not commonly 

 prey on mice, and the Committee, in driving back from How- 

 pasley, observed five Kestrels together hovering over the vole- 

 haunted ground. 



Buzzards probably destroy large numbers of voles and mice, 

 and are too heavy on the wing to do much injury to winged 

 game ; but they have become very scarce in southern Scotland, 

 owing to their destruction by gamekeepers. 



Havens and Hooded Crows have also become rare, but this 

 cannot be regretted in the farmer's interest, as they attack young 

 lambs, and even pick the eyes out of the weakly ewes. Moreover 

 the Rooks, which it is to be hoped no short-sighted policy will 

 greatly reduce in numbers, have done excellent service in digging 

 up the voles' nests and devouring the young. 



Mr. Service, of Maxwelltown, drew attention to a change 

 which had taken place in the habit of Rooks in his neighbour- 



