MO 
KESTREL. 
We again find it equally abundant in the wilder 
parts and more mountainous districts of England 
and Scotland, delighting in those deep ravines or 
gullies, clothed with natural brush and wood, 
and having parts varied by some precipitous 
rock, formed into shelves, whereon grow the 
wild grasses, heath, or blaeberry,* or a drapery 
of ivy or honeysuckle ; under the overhanging 
brow of some of these a hole is scraped, and 
the eggs are laid without any protection from 
the rock' or ground. This we conceive to be the 
most favourite site, almost always selected where 
many such retreats occur in the country; and we 
know several glens, where, within a quarter of a 
mile, there may, in April or May be found from 
ten to twelve eyries, and in one situation, eight 
or nine can be perceived at once. Mr Thompson 
writes us, that in Ireland it is equally com- 
mon, frequenting the inland and marine cliffs. 
“ Throughout the whole range of noble basaltic 
precipices, in the north-east of Ireland I have 
remarked its presence.” 
In form, the Kestrel is interesting, by some 
being thought sufficiently varied to form a sub- 
genus. It is aberrant in many parts of struc- 
ture and habits, and the similitude which runs 
through a small group of five or six species, 
would seem to warrant its sectional division ; 
• Vaccinium myrtillus. 
