KESTREL 



FALCO TIXNUNCULUS, Linn. 



Falco tinnunculus, Linn. S. N. i. p. 127 (1766) ; Naum. i. 

 p. 323 ; Macg. iii. p. 325 ; Hewitson, i. p. 32 ; Yarr. 

 ed. 4>, i. p. 78; Dresser, vi. p. 113. 



Faucon-cresserelle, French; Thurm-Falke, Riittel-Falke, 

 German; Primilla, Cernicalo, Spanish. 



In spite of the senseless persecution to which it is 

 exposed, this beautiful and interesting bird is still 

 tolerably common in many parts of our country, and 

 its habits are probably too well known to those who 

 take any interest in birds to render any lengthened 

 notice necessary at my hands. In the part of England 

 with which I am best acquainted I consider the Kestrel 

 to be a regular migrant, appearing in force in March ; 

 these birds pair shortly after their arrival, and generally 

 take possession of an old nest of Crow, Magpie, or 

 Rook. Throughout the early summer a hovering 

 Kestrel or two may be seen daily in our neighbourhood, 

 and as soon as our meadows are cleared of their crops 

 we often see five or six of these very ornamental birds 

 on wing together diligently exaiminng the ground for 

 the various animals that constitute their usual diet, e.g. 



