The Kestrel. 
251 
Another name by which the kestrel was known was 
the wind-sucker. Nashe, in his Lenten Stuffe, describing 
the expedition of the birds against the fishes, says that 
the former chose “ the kistrilles or windsuckers, that 
filling themselves with winde, fly against the wind ever¬ 
more, for their fill-sailed standerd bearer ” (Harleian 
Miscellany, vol. vi. p. 170). 
The kestrel was easily tamed, and was affectionate in 
captivity. It was trained to fly at small birds, though in 
its wild state mice were its usual food. It is not impos¬ 
sible that when kept in a farm-yard the kestrel might 
strike up an acquaintance with the pigeons that it saw 
daily, otherwise Reginald Scot’s theory of their alliance 
is difficult to accept. Scot writes (Discovery of Witch¬ 
craft, p. 213, ed. 1634) 
“ The friendly society betwixt a fox and a serpent is almost in¬ 
credible : how loving the lizzard is to a man, we may read though we 
cannot see. Yet some affirm that our newt is not only like to the 
lizzard in shape, but also in condition. From the which afection 
towards a man, a spaniell doth not much differ, whereof I could cite incre¬ 
dible stories. The amity betwixt a castrell and a pigeon is much noted 
among writers ; and specially how the castrell defendeth her from her 
enemie the sparrow-hawke ; whereof they say the dove is not ignorant.” 
Sligiitfalcon. 
Another species, the Slightfalcon, is mentioned by 
Dr. Giles Fletcher, in his treatise on Russia, 
1588, in which he reports that in that country 
“ they have great store of hawkes; the eagle, the ger- 
faulcon, the slightfaulcon, the goshawke, the tassell, the 
sparhawke,” etc. ( Purchas , vol. iii. p. 417). 
The Goshawk is the largest of the short-winged 
hawks. The male was sometimes called the 
tercel. It was flown at quadrupeds more 
frequently than at birds, chiefly hares and rabbits, and in 
its wild state it is quite possible that it might attempt 
still larger game:— 
“ Ha, sweet .Nature! What goshauk would prey upon such a lamb? 
(Ben Jonson, Bartholomew Fair, ii. 1.) 
