Wild Bhxh Vs^efnl and, Injuriou.^. 
6G1 
are actually feeding on the very insects to which the loss of the 
plant is really due. Sometimes they have to bear the blame 
for the failure of a crop which should rightly be attributed 
to an unsatisfactory seed-bed. The bite of a slug, too, is not 
infrequently mistaken for that of a bird, though a small 
amount of observation will show to which the injury is due, 
the work of a bird exhibiting sharply cut edges, while that of 
the mollusc has a rounded appearance. 
No attempt has been made in these pages to conceal 
the mischief committed by birds. On the contrary, the harm 
of which they are guilty has perhaps been given undue promi- 
nence from the very fact above alluded to, that it is so much 
more readily observed. Though it is a hard task to chronicle 
the misdeeds of one’s favourites, a conscientious attempt has 
been made to give an impartial, and, it is hoped, fairly correct 
summary of the most important points in their life history. 
Hawks. 
Of the many species of hawks which were formerly plentiful 
in this country, only two can now be considered at all common. 
Times are much changed since numbers of kites, or gleads, 
were to be seen on London Bridge feeding on the garbage of 
the streets and river ; since the peregrine was honoured by 
special protective legislation ; since the harriers frequented our 
waste lands ; even since the buzzard was a common accompani- 
ment to the mountainous or sylvan landscape. In the present 
day the kestrel and the sparrow-hawk are the only representa- 
tives of their family existing in most localities ; and it is a 
matter of wonder that they have survived the constant and 
bitter warfare carried on by pheasant-preservers, and others, 
against all birds with hooked beak and curved talons. 
The Kestrel (Falco tinnuncuhis) renders itself conspicuous 
by hanging almost motionless in the air, its long tail and pointed 
wings clearly defined against the sky ; and its beautiful flight 
never loses its charm for those who delight in observing the 
habits of birds. Windhover, hover-hawk, stannel, cres-hawk, 
and red hawk are amongst the names by which this little 
falcon is locally known. Its whole length is from thirteen to 
fifteen inches. In young birds and females the plumage of 
the upper parts is rufous, barred with black, and the tail is 
barred throughout its length. The male in adult dress has the 
back pale chestnut with a few black spots, and the head and 
tail bluish-grey, the latter with one broad black band near its 
extremity. The kestrel (fig. 1) is found throughout the British 
