28 
FALCONID.E. 
I can find no record of its occurrence in winter, its absence 
at that time of the year being probably caused by defect of 
food; for although it will occasionally prey upon birds, neither 
mice nor insects are then to be obtained. In Orkney, where 
it resides throughout the year, these are more abundant in the 
numerous gardens and enclosures in which Shetland is want- 
ing. There being no tall trees, and but very few old ruined 
buildings of sufficient height, the Kestrel invariably breeds in 
the cliffs, particularly favouring the islands of Unst and Fetlar 
in that respect, their greater fertility being, perhaps, more 
favourable to the production of its natural food. It is not 
unlikely from a similar cause that it breeds with tolerable 
regularity in the island of Bressay; at Mid- Yell voe, and at 
West Sandwick, in the island of Yell; and at North Mavine 
and Scalloway on the Mainland. There may be many other 
breeding-places, but it is difficult to procure accurate informa- 
tion upon the subject from the inhabitants. Whatever may be 
the case elsewhere, here at least the Kestrel will sometimes prey 
upon birds. Only a few years ago I drove one from the body 
of a newly-killed blackbird, the brain of which had just been 
removed. I still have the skull in my possession as a memento 
of the circumstance. I have also upon several occasions found 
remains of small birds in the stomach, and once saw it in full 
pursuit of a common bunting, the latter escaping beneath some 
bushes, where I afterwards found it panting and with outspread 
wings, in a state of complete exhaustion. Another popular 
error is the supposition that birds are not alarmed by its 
presence, and that it may hover about a poultry-yard without 
exciting the smallest fear on the part of the inhabitants. No 
doubt it resorts thither more for the sake of mice than with 
the intention of disturbing the chickens, but if one’s own eye- 
sight may be believed, poultry and the smaller birds, even 
golden plover, are as afraid of the Kestrel as of the Merlin, or 
even as of tlie Peregrine itself. 
I was at first not a little surprised on observing the exceed- 
ingly pale and faded appearance of the plumage of Kestrels 
