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 lattei 
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- 
l)osed 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 Tneo gaJlo. 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 
