. An illustrated manual of British birds . Dunlins, Meadow-Pipits, Thrushes,Larks &c. It has been seen in pursuit of a Swallow, whose rapidevolutions it followed as if moved by the same impulse ; while byfalconers it was, and still is, used for flying at Larks; in swiftness,however, it does not approach the Hobby, or even the wildPeregrine. Owing to its habit of perching on rocks, it is knownin some parts as the Stone Falcon. Adult male : crown and upper parts slate-blue, with black shaft-streaks ; throat white ; nape and under parts rufous, striped withdark brown ; tail bluish-grey, broadly b
. An illustrated manual of British birds . Dunlins, Meadow-Pipits, Thrushes,Larks &c. It has been seen in pursuit of a Swallow, whose rapidevolutions it followed as if moved by the same impulse ; while byfalconers it was, and still is, used for flying at Larks; in swiftness,however, it does not approach the Hobby, or even the wildPeregrine. Owing to its habit of perching on rocks, it is knownin some parts as the Stone Falcon. Adult male : crown and upper parts slate-blue, with black shaft-streaks ; throat white ; nape and under parts rufous, striped withdark brown ; tail bluish-grey, broadly banded with black near theend and tipped with white ; cere, legs and feet yellow. Length10 in. ; wing 7-5 in. Female: upper parts dark liver-brown; tail-feathers brown, crossed with five narrow paler bands and tippedwith white; nape, cheeks and under parts dull white, streaked withbrown. Length 12 in. ; wing 85 in. Old females sometimes attainthe male plumage. The young resemble the female, but are morerufous in tint. 343. THE KESTREL. Falco , Linnaeus. The Kestrel—also familiarly known as the Wind-hover, from itshabit of hanging almost motionless in air, against the wind—is themost abundant of the ISritish birds of prey : and would be still morenumerous than it is, but for its irrational persecution by personswho ought to be aware that it feeds principally upon mice, and is,therefore, one of the best friends of the agriculturist. It is generallydistributed throughout the United Kingdom ; but in Scotland, whereits harmlessness and utility are now recognized by the more intelli-gent gamekeepers, it migrates, as a rule, from the northern districtsin winter; at which season its numbers in England are still furtherincreased by visitors from the Continent. 344 KESTREL. To the Faeroes the Kestrel is only a wanderer, and it has not beenobtained in Iceland; but on September 27th 1887 a female wasshot near Nantucket, Massachusetts, and examined in the flesh b
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookidillustra, booksubjectbirds
