662 
Wild Birds Useful and, Injvrions. 
Islands, but migrates from the northern portions in winter. 
Its handsomely mottled brownish-red eggs, four to six in 
number, are usually laid either on a convenient ledge or recess 
in cliffs, or in the old nests of other birds, particularly those 
of the carrion crow. 
It is one of the most useful birds we have ; and if the 
Fig. 1. — Kestrel, Fako tiimunculuji. Fig. 2. — Sparrow-lmwk, Accij>iter nistts. 
beauty of its flight and plumage cannot save it, the benefits 
which it confers on farmers ought to gain for it efficient protec- 
tion from molestation, notwithstanding the occasional havoc it 
undoubtedly commits amongst very young game. By far the 
greater portion of its food consists of mice and beetles, and the 
number of mischievous creatures thus destroyed is enormous. 
