354 RED-FOOTED FALCON. 



found in the south of Sweden, and as far north as lat. 65° in 

 Finland ; but Dr. Menzbier thinks that it has only extended its 

 migration to the northern provinces of Russia within the last fifty 

 years. During the same period a gradual diminution in its numbers 

 — as a breeding species — has taken place in the south, especially 

 near Odessa, where immense flocks used to arrive early in April 

 and afterwards disperse, reuniting in autumn previous to departure. 

 On the steppes of Orenburg this decrease has partially coincided 

 with remarkable immigrations of the Lesser Kestrel, previously a 

 very rare bird there. The Red-footed Falcon breeds in Siberia as 

 far as Yeneseisk and even Lake Baikal ; but eastward the repre- 

 sentative is F. anmrensis (the adult male of which is white beneath 

 the wing instead of grey), and this visits Lidia. On migration our 

 species is found in Asia Minor and South-eastern Europe ; while in 

 the Danubian provinces and Hungary it breeds in considerable 

 numbers ; but westward it is only a straggler, and in Spain it is rare, 

 though it has visited the Canaries in spring. In winter it is found 

 in Africa down to Damara Land. 



In May or June this species appropriates the old nest of a Crow, 

 Magpie or Rook, in which it deposits 4-6 eggs, of a yellower red 

 than those of the Kestrel and smaller in size : measurements i "45 

 by I '15 in. Five or six nests so occupied maybe found in one 

 tree ; and in its general habits this Falcon is remarkably gregarious, 

 numbers roosting close together. The food consists chiefly of 

 dragonflies, large moths, beetles, grasshoppers and other insects; 

 also of lizards, shrews and field-mice. The flight resembles that of 

 the Kestrel, and lacks the dash of that of the Hobby ; the note is 

 a clear, shrill ki, often repeated, especially towards evening, at which 

 time the bird usually seeks its prey. 



The adult male has the head, shoulders, breast and tail nearly 

 black ; mantle and under wing-coverts lead-grey ; quills paler, with 

 black shafts ; thighs, vent and under tail-coverts rich chestnut ; bill 

 dark horn-colour ; cere, orbits, legs and feet reddish ; claws nearly 

 white. Length w$; wing 97 in. The female has the head, nape 

 and under wing-coverts chiefly chestnut ; mantle and tail slate-grey, 

 with darker bars ; principal quills brownish, barred on the inner 

 webs with bufifish-white ; length 12 in.; wing 10 in. The young bird 

 has the throat and forehead whitish ; crown pale chestnut ; upper 

 surface tinged with ruddy brown ; tail-feathers distinctly barred, and 

 the bars on the primaries tending to coalesce. The male soon 

 begins to assume his dark plumage. 



