2 
KESTREL. 
Crows - and at times even the unsuspected Moorhen has been proved the agressor. Rats and stoats, as well 
as snakes or adders*, arc also now and then tempted by such a tender morsel as a young Pheasant. 
The Kestrel in the game-preserves of the southern and midland counties, like the Eagle and Peregrine 
on the Highland moon) is made responsible for all injury when the real culprit has managed to escape 
observation To recount all the instances I have met with where this species has been unreasonably accused 
would be superfluous, though the following may perhaps afford an insight into the justice of certain charges of 
theft brought against the larger birds of prey. A few years back I passed part of the spring on an extensive 
sheep-farm in the west, where Eagles were looked upon as the most desperate robbers, in consequence of 
the damage they were declared to have inflicted on the flocks and the number of lambs they had carried off. 
That they were exceedingly destructive I never for a moment doubted ; but how the poor birds could possibly 
be guilty of all the crimes imputed to them I was at a loss to conjecture. Shortly after leaving the islands 
I returned to the neighbourhood of Inverness; and while crossing a hill overlooking the lochs in the 
Caledonian Canal I observed a number of boats belonging to the east coast, which had been prosecuting 
the fishing in the Minch, making their way home. The boats were naturally delayed some time in the 
lochs ; and I was particularly interested as soon as I noticed that one or two lambs were on every craft. A 
grassy bank stretched close down to the water-side; and it was an amusing sight to watch the gentle 
manner in which the sturdy fishermen tended their sportive charges while they gambolled on the liill-side, 
and the care with which they were led back to their respective boats when the passage of the lochs had been 
effected. I have often wondered how or where these lambs had been procured. 
Birds up to the size of Blackbirds or Thrushes arc now and then struck down by this species. Last 
S p r ing I W as informed by the gardener that a Kestrel had made several attacks on these birds in my own 
garden near Brighton. It appeared from his report that the Ilawk had not succeeded in making any captures, 
although one Blackbird had only escaped with the loss of its tail. I was of opinion that the culprit must 
have been a Sparrow-Hawk ; but being hastily summoned shortly after, I had a good view of a large female 
Kestrel tearing at a Blackbird, on which she was perched on the middle of a bed of Hyacinths. On being 
disturbed the Hawk at once made off, carrying the Blackbird in her talons. 
I should be sorry to venture an opinion as to whether the British Islands are visited by any considerable 
numbers from the Continent during the autumn. There can be little doubt that a few cross the North Sea; 
I have met with them on the passage, and have also noticed an accession to the usual numbers on the cast 
coast during the middle of October. I have more than once remarked that they appeared to come about the 
same time as the Grey Crows. My attention was attracted early in the morning of October 2G, 1881, 
by the commotion created by a pair of Black Crows attempting to drive off some of their Grey brethren 
who seemed inclined to take up their quarters in a plantation they usually frequented. Later in the day the 
Crows were busily employed in repelling the advances of three or four Kestrels who had approached their 
domain. In some instances they followed them a considerable distance across the marshes before they 
desisted from their pursuit. These, I should imagine, must have been fresh arrivals, as during the summer 
months the Crows and Kestrels live in perfect amity, both species breeding in close proximity to one another, 
the Kestrels, as a rule, appropriating the old nests of their black neighbours. 
Eor breeding-purposes this species resorts to various situations. On the downs in the south I have 
repeatedly observed them to rear their young in chalk-pits; they also make use of the deserted nests 
of Crows and other birds in the woodland districts, while along the sea-coast and among the islands the 
crevices and ledges in the cliffs furnish secure and almost inaccessible eyries. At times they are noticed 
* I havo a vivid recollection of killing a large adder, about thirty years ago, in Sussex, near a coop in which somo newly-hatched Pheasants 
wore located, and discovering that it had swallowed one of the young birds. 
