Family FALCONIDAE. 

 Cerchneis tinnunculus (L.) — Kestrel. 



(Plates 108 and 109, fig. a-f). 

 (Snouckaert: Avifauna Neerlandica, p. 75, No. 176). 



Colour of surface of shell: 



Colour of spots: 



Average dimensions: 

 Average weight of shell: 

 Texture of shell: 



Shape : 

 Nest: 



Site of nest: 



Number of eggs: 

 Breeding season: 

 Duration of incubation: 



loam-coloured, varying up to rusty red; 

 rarely a decided white; when light shines 

 through the eggshell it shows through 

 yellowish white. 



yellowish brown, varying up to dark rusty 

 brown. 



38.6,-, 30.55 millimetres. 



1.5 gram. 



as is also the case with F. siibbuteo, the 

 texture is still finer and more uniformly 

 grained than that of the other genera- 



variable. 



consists of vegetable materials, lined with 

 feathers and hair. (Corv/rfae-nests are also 

 used). 



in trees, at different heights, also in low 

 pollard willows; in towers, and on and in 

 all sorts of buildings; in cracks, holes, etc. 

 in walls; also in holes in trees. 



5—6, sometimes 7 (after-set 3-4). 



April— June. 



about 3 weeks. 



