262 THE RUMPLESS FOWL. 



the luckless mouse ; and now inspecting the de- 

 serted nests of crows and magpies, in order to se- 

 cure a commodious retreat wherein to perform their 

 approaching incubation. Allowing, on an average, 

 four young ones to the nest, there must have been 

 bred here ninety-six windhover hawks last summer : 

 add the parent birds, and we shall have, in all, one 

 hundred and forty-four. Scarcely five of these 

 birds were seen here from Michaelmas to the latter 

 end of January. 



The periodical disappearance of the windhover 

 from its breeding-place might give rise to much or- 

 nithological inquiry; but I suspect that, when every 

 circumstance shall have been duly weighed, we shall 

 still be in the dark with regard to the true cause of 

 its departure. The want of food cannot be sup- 

 posed to force it away ; for food the most congenial 

 to its appetite is found here in great abundance at 

 the very time when it deserts us. Neither can sup- 

 posed inclemency of weather be alleged in support 

 of its migration, as the temperature of England is 

 remarkably mild long after the sun has descended 

 into the southern hemisphere. 



THE RUMPLESS FOWL. 



Pauca jTcieo gallo. Virgil. 



Some time ago^ I introduced this bird to the readers 

 of Mr. Loudon's Magazine^ in order to show them 

 that the feathers of birds are just as brilliant, and 



