160 LIST OF DITTRNAL BIRDS OF PREY. 



Erythropus amurensis) an Asiatic migrant to South-east 

 Africa^ in which case it must stand as T. pekinensis, or an 

 abnormally-coloured T. cenchris which had migi^ated from 

 Europe. I have entered it at the Norwich Museum as 

 T. pekinensis, together with a female killed on the same day 

 at the same place (the females of the two races being undis- 

 tinguishable) ; but I am by no means sure that I am right in 

 this, as another male Kestrel, procured at the same spot 

 eight days previously and also sent to me by Mr. Ayres, is a 

 typical T. cenchris. Mr. Ayres noted that the latter species 

 (to which he referred all three specimens) was present on 

 this farm when these birds were shot '' in considerable 

 numbers.^^ 



I may add that another recent addition to the Norwich 

 Museum is an adult male of T. cenchris, which is quite 

 typical as regards the extent of rufous on the wing-coverts, 

 but entirely immaculate on the under surface. This speci- 

 men was obtained in Sicily in the month of June. 



On the whole it would seem that T. cenchris and T. pekin- 

 ensis are geographical races of the same species, perhaps 

 subspecifically separable, but with the line of demarcation 

 between them by no means very constant or distinct. 



Since the above remarks were penned, another Kestrel, in 

 adult male plumage and apparently referable to T. peki- 

 nensis, has been acquired by the Norwich Museum; this 

 Kestrel, which was killed near Potchefstroom by Mr. Ayres, 

 resembles Asiatic examples, as regards the coloration of the 

 wing-coverts, quite as closely as the male previously sent; 

 but it is more spotted on the breast and flanks than is the 

 case in that specimen. 



