KESTREL. 
143 
I watched, him through a glass, and saw him 
dart through a swarm of insects, seize one of 
them in each claw, and eat them while flying. 
He returned to the charge again and again 
I ascertained it beyond a doubt, as I afterwards 
shot him.’” We may add also, that there is, in 
the habits of these small Falcons, a very great 
analogy to the manners of the Shrikes. 
In works on falconry, the Kestrel was said to 
be “ easily reclaimed,” and was trained to fly at 
small birds, snipes, and quails. Mr Siuclaire of 
Belfast, however, does not seem to hold them in 
very high estimation for this purpose ; he has 
trained them so far as, when allowed their liberty, 
they will attend*and soar above him like the Pere- 
grine, and fly at small birds let off from the hand.* 
In confinement, it is by far the most familiar 
Falcon we have ever tamed, by a little attention 
and kindness losing all shyness, coming at once 
when called on, perching on the hand and shoul- 
der, and uttering its expressive cry of fondness, 
which can be so easily distinguished in its eyries, 
when the parents are returning with food to the 
young, or when the male approaches his partner 
upon the nest. A remarkable anecdote is men- 
tioned by Mr Thompson of a Kestrel belonging 
to his friend Mr Sinclaire. One of these birds, 
* Mag. of Zool. and Bot. vol. ii. 
