THE KESTREL. 
55 
former locality, was captured in a cottage, which it entered by 
dashing through a pane of the window, in sparrow-hawk fashion, 
after a yellow bunting. This merlin was a female, as was another 
sent to him, which had been shot there, after having twice “ put 
down” a ring-dove or wood-quest. This bird, though double its 
own weight, would have been killed at the second stoop, had not 
a sportsman, who witnessed the whole occurrence, shot the mer- 
lin, when in the act of seizing its prey. 
THE KESTEEL. 
Wind-hover. 
Falco tinnunculus, Linn. 
Is common and indigenous to suitable localities through- 
out the island. 
The chosen locality for the eyrie of the peregrine falcon is 
always of such a nature as is suited to the kestrel, which we are 
almost certain to find there, be the place inland or marine ; but 
much more humble cliffs than the larger bird would deign to 
occupy, are tenanted by the smaller one. Throughout the whole 
range of noble basaltic precipices in the north-east of Ireland, I 
have remarked the presence of the kestrel. Where there are no 
cliffs, its nest is placed in ruined buildings, church towers,* trees, 
and occasionally in pigeon-houses. This bird is but a poor 
architect When trees are selected for its eyrie, the ruined nest 
of other species (generally of the magpie, or some one of the 
Corvidae) is used for the purpose ; and “ among rocks or ruins it 
seems to make no nest, but lays its eggs on the natural or arti- 
ficial floor .”f A kestrel, after having been kept for four years 
at Castle Warren (co. Cork), laid eggs for the first time in April, 
1848, and when four were deposited in the nest, commenced sit- 
* The only place of this kind in the neighbourhood of Belfast, that I know to be 
selected for the purpose, is the tower of Ballylesson church, which alone, of the many 
edifices of this description in our populous neighbourhood, contains a set of musical 
hells. (Note of 1838.) 
f Mr. J. Poole. 
