122 
BIRD-LIFE. 
Falcon, so shy in its habits, often takes np her 
abode upon some high building in a populous town, 
because her experience teaches her that she can live 
there in peace and safety. The cautious Crow may 
be seen, during the winter, fearlessly walking in the 
streets of towns, and becoming almost domesticated; 
in the suburbs, however, the same boldness is not so 
noticeable; while outside the gates they remain as 
shy as in the summer-time. The self-same species of 
Vultures, which in Southern Europe are more difficult of 
access than all other birds, are to be seen walking about 
in the villages of North-eastern Africa in the most 
unconcerned manner possible. In Spain I only succeeded 
in procuring one single specimen of the Kestrel (Tinnunculus 
alaudarius ), their excessive shyness rendering all attempts 
at approach on my part useless. At the same time this 
species, together with its cousin, the Lesser Kestrel ( Tin¬ 
nunculus cenchris), breeds devoid of all fear in the towns of 
Malaga and Madrid, as well as in Athens, where they are 
very plentiful. In our towns the domestic Pigeon may 
be seen running before one in the streets, at the distance 
of only a few feet—passing carts causing them to move 
only just as far as is necessary to avoid being run over. 
On the “ Bruhl’schen” terrace, in Dresden, I have seen 
the Ring Dove, usually amongst the shyest of the shy, 
flying from tree to tree, and heard the rustling of their 
wings above the heads of the passers-by, as though 
they were in the remotest depths of the forest. To my 
great astonishment I was informed that they bred regu¬ 
larly among the trees of the much-frequented “ Ostraallee.” 
The Woodpeckers in the “ Grossen Garten” amused 
themselves with their usual pursuits close to, and utterly 
regardless of, the numerous loungers; and the Golden 
