46 On the Ornithology of Cyprus. 



there is little doubt that this beautiful Falcon is resident, 

 and breeds on these cliffs, which are amongst the few 

 steep shores of the island. 



771. Falco vespertinus Linn. 



Tinnunculus vespertinus Gray, B. O. U. List, p. 103. 



Miiller records that Schluter received from Cyprus no less 

 than twelve specimens of the Red-footed Falcon, consisting of 

 male and female adults and several immature birds, together 

 with a considerable number of clutches of e"£s varying in 

 number from four to five, which were taken between the 

 16th of April and the 23rd of May (1878). Lord Lilford 

 met with this species only on one occasion, namely, on May 

 the 6th, 1875, not far from Limassol, where, towards evening, 

 a considerable number suddenly appeared, one of which he 

 shot. It docs not seem to have been observed by Guillemard, 

 but Glaszner sent six to Madanisz taken in September and 

 October near Larnaca. I am very doubtful as to the 

 correctness of Muller's statements about the eggs which he 

 received really belonging to this species ; from what he 

 writes, it is evident that the consignment of eggs included 

 large numbers of those of the Common and Lesser Kestrels, 

 and as the eggs of the former are very easily confused with 

 those of the Red-footed Falcon, and as Cyprus seems some- 

 what outside the breeding-range of the present species, I am 

 inclined to regard F. vespertinus only as a visitor on its 

 spring and autumn migrations. 



773. Falco tinnunculus, Linn. 



Tinnunculus ataudarins, 13. O. U. List, p. 104. 



The Kestrel is a common resident but its numbers are 

 swollen by migrants in spring and autumn : at these seasons 

 migrating-parties of a dozen or a score are often observed. I 

 have many notes of its occurrence during every month in the 

 year. I have taken eggs as early as April 12th and as late 

 as May 23rd, but 1 have also found the young hatched on the 

 3rd of May. From our examination of the contents of their 

 crops they would appear to feed entirely on lizards and 



