84 
cadilly, we perceived a Kestrel directing its 
course from behind St. James's church: 
whilst we were observing it, a flight of pi- 
geons, from a neighbouring house, attracted 
its notice. He immediately wheeled round 
and made a stoop at one, which dexterously 
eluded his grasp; not deterred by this fai- 
lure, he made a second pounce, in which he 
was more successful, and having trussed a 
bird, he took it still struggling to a projec- 
tion from the church, where he leisurely de- 
voured it, notwithstanding it was shot at, 
and attempted to be roused by the shouts of 
numerous passengers, who were spectators 
of this unusual circumstance, in one of the 
greatest thoroughfares in the metropolis." 
It has often been trained for purposes of 
falconry, and employed in the pursuit of the 
smaller kinds of game ; and is said to have 
proved excellent in the chace of partridges 
and quails, and sometimes even of pheasants. 
When wounded and disabled from flight 
by the sportsman, it will lie flat upon its 
back, and in that desperate attitude keeps 
up a very spirited though unequal contest 
with its claws and beak, against its more 
