34 Mr. J. H. Gurney on the Kestrel of Madagascar. 



We did not meet with the nests of the Buff-backed Heron ; 

 and it seems probable that they are late breeders, as in those 

 killed about the end of April the ovaries did not appear to be 

 enlarged. 



I purchased specimens of the eggs from the widow of the late 

 M. Odascalchi, naturalist of Cairo, who had a large stock, and 

 there seems no doubt of their genuineness. They are of the 

 usual pale blue, vary considerably in size and shape, and have a 

 very thin shell. 



The Buff-backed Heron {H. bubulcus) is easily distinguished 

 from the Little Egret, H. garzetta, even at a considerable distance, 

 as the latter is almost invariably solitary, while its long, sharp, 

 black bill contrasts strongly with the short, thick, yellow one 

 of the former. 



In consequence of its supposed sanctity among the Arabs, 

 many people maintain that H. bubulcus is the true " Sacred 

 Ibis," and no amount of proof to the contrary will make them 

 think otherwise. I have never been able to hear of any one who 

 has seen the Ibis religiosa in Egypt, and I only know of one in- 

 stance in which the /. falcinellus occurred. 

 [To be continued.] 



IV. — Note on the Kestrel of Madagascar (Tinnunculus newtoni) . 

 By J. H. Gurney. 



(Plate II.) 



The Norwich Museum is indebted to the liberality of Mr. Edward 

 Newton for a specimen of the Tinnunculus gracilis of Lesson, from 

 the Seychelles Islands, and also for two Kestrels collected by him 

 in Madagascar, and described under the same specific title of 

 "gracilis,'' in ''The Ibis,' vol. iv. p. 267. 



The sex of the specimen from the Seychelles Islands, above 

 alluded to, has not been noted, but I am disposed to consider it 

 a male bird. 



The two individuals from Madagascar are both marked as 

 males by Mr. Edward Newton. 



On comparing the two Madagascar Kestrels with the spe- 



