i8o BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



winter in Africa and India. The adult male has the 

 upper parts greyish-black, with paler margins; primaries, 

 blackish; rump and tail-feathers, greyish, tinged with black; 

 throat and sides of neck, white ; moustachial-like streak, 

 black ; below, yellowish-white, with bold streaks of black ; 

 thighs and vent, rich yellowish-chestnut ; irides, brown ; 

 bill, lead colour ; cere, legs, and feet, yellow. Length, 

 about twelve inches. The female in colouration is similar 

 to the male, but is a little larger in size. The young have 

 the feathers above, brown, margined with buff. 



Orange-legged Hobby. 



The Orange-legged Hobby {Falco vespertinus^ Linnaeus) is 

 a rare irregular spring and autumn migrant to the British 

 Islands. It is found nesting in Central Europe and Western 

 Asia, migrating to Africa in winter. The adult male has 

 the principal portion of the plumage slate-grey; thighs, 

 vent, and under tail-coverts, bright chestnut; irides, hazel- 

 brown ; bare space round eyes, orange-red ; cere, orange- 

 red ; tip of bill, dark horn colour, orange at base ; legs and 

 feet, orange-red. Length, from ten to eleven inches. The 

 adult female, which is larger than the male, has the wing- 

 coverts, mantle, and tail ashy-grey, the two latter having 

 blackish bars; head, nape, and under parts, rufous. The 

 young resemble the female, but the throat is white, and 

 under parts are streaked with brown. (P. i8i.) 



