K E S TPEEL,.'—
F aie a tiim u riciilu s ,Linru
KESTREL.
FALCO TINNUNCULUS, Linn.
Falco tinnunculus, Linn. S. N. i. p. 127 (1766) ; Naum. i.
p. 323; Maeg. iii. p. 325 ; Hewitson, i. p. 32; Yarr.
ed. 4, i. p. 78; Dresser, vi. p. 113.
Faucon-cresserelle, French; Thurm-Falke, Ruttel-Falke,
German.; Primilla, Cernicalo, Spanish.
In spite of the senseless persecution to which it is
exposed, this beautiful and interesting bird is still
tolerably common in many parts of our country, and
its habits are probably too well known to those who
take any interest in birds to render any lengthened
notice necessary at my hands. In the part of England
with which I am best acquainted I consider the Kestrel
to be a regular migrant, appearing in force in March;
these birds pair shortly after their arrival, and generally
take possession of an old nest of Crow, Magpie, or
Rook. Throughout the early summer a hovering
Kestrel or two may be seen daily in our neighbourhood,
and as soon as our meadows are cleared of their crops
we often see five or six of these very ornamental birds
on wing together diligently exaiminng the ground for
the various animals that constitute their usual diet, e.n.