134 
THE KESTREL. 
unenclosed countries, was by preparing what were called bird- 
bushes, about half a mile from each other. A large stake 
was driven into the ground and left standing, about seven 
feet in height ; bushes and boughs were then laid round this 
post and kept loosely open, and hollow at the bottom, to the 
extent of ten or twelve yards round the post, for the Partridges 
to run into when pursued by the Goshawk, which they usually 
did after being disturbed two or three times. The Goshawk, 
finding itself disappointed, and unable to follow them with 
its long wings amongst the bushes and briars, after flying 
round them for some turns, was sure to perch upon the top jj 
of the post, as the only resting-place at hand, and was there 
as sure to be taken by a trap set there for the purpose. 
The beautiful, and at the same time, very common little 
Hawk, called the Kestrel (id tinnunculus ), when in search 
of its prey, may be seen hovering high in the air in the 
same spot, with its head towards the wind. It has been 
asserted by some naturalists that it lives only upon insects 
and mice, and will not touch small birds. This, however, 
is untrue ; the Kestrel will not only kill small birds, but 
others nearly as large as itself, as the following fact will 
prove. One of them was observed to seize a young Black- 
bird just able to fly, which it was in the act of carrying off 
in ts talons. The old Blackbird gave chase with loud cries, 
and apparent determination to rescue her young one, when 
the Kestrel, having allowed her to approach unmolested, in 
an instant dropped the young bird, and as instantaneously 
caught up the screaming parent, and carried her clear away. 
The habit of hawking on the wing has been further proved 
by its having been seen on summer evenings, darting 
amongst a swarm of cockchafers, seizing one in each claw, 
and eating them on the wing, and then again darting amongst 
them. 
That birds possibly may by their swifter flight often 
escape, is not unlikely; but exclusive of the above instances, 
bird-catchers know to their cost, while patiently watching 
their nets, how often the Kestrel, hovering over the field, 
will pounce down and destroy their most valuable call-birds; 
