( xxxix ) 



"2 Hen Harriers [Circus cyanem^ L.). Parts of rabbit The 

 Harriers prey on frogs, snakes, rats, insects, etc., or even 

 on rabbits and birds. 



3 Ospreys (Fatultou haltxHus, L.). Fish and beetles in 

 numbers. 



6 Peregrine Falcons (Falco p&regrinus, Tunst.). These birds 

 pre)' mostly on birds, but also on shrews, rats, etc. 



2 Hobbys (Falco sabbuteo, L.). Shrews. The Kev. Murray 

 A. Matthews, in one of the most recent books on British 

 Birds,* states that the food of this species consists 

 chiefly of insects : such as dragon-flies, large moths and 

 beetles. 



12 Merlins (Falco sesalon, Tunst.). 1, linnet ; 1, beetles; 10, 

 mice and shrews. Mr. Matthews speaks of this bird as 

 occasionally feeding on beetles. 



1 Eed-legged Falcon (Falco vesper tinus, L.). Beetles and a 

 mouse. This species appears to be almost entirely insect- 

 ivorous, and, as its name implies, is crepuscular in its 

 habits, and feeds largely on the night-flying moths. 



36 Kestrels (Falco tinnuneidus, L.). 3, beetles ; 1, grasshoppers ; 

 1, larvae ; 1 contained the following : — 60 caterpillars, 30 

 grasshoppers, 1 1 beetles, 1 earwig ; 1 , fur of rabbit and 

 beetles ; 29, mice and shrews. Mr. Matthews says of this 

 species : — " In mild winters kestrels feed almost entirely 

 upon the common ' clock ' beetles, as the writer has 

 proved by dissection. In hot summer weather they 

 capture numerous TipuUe — ' daddy-longlegs ' — and may be 

 seen hovering over and pouncing upon them in the dry 

 bents ; grasshoppers, caterpillars, earth-worms, frogs, and 

 lizards are also preyed upon \ cockchafers, too, are largely 

 devoured, being caught in the air with their feet, and eaten 

 while they are on the wing." 



49 Sparrowhawks (Acctj/Uer nisus, L.). 6, small birds ; 43 

 mice and shrews. I can find no record of this species 

 feeding on insects. 



70 Long-eared Owls (Asio otus, L.). 1, small bird; 69, mice 



* "British Birds with their Nests and Eggs," six vols, by various writers. 

 Illustrated by F. W. Frohawk ; Brumby and Clarke, Ltd. ►Several of the 

 references with regard to the birds mentioned are taken from this work. 



