( 42 ) 



darker. Tail banded with black, but 

 number of bands variable. 



Female larger. Breast spots larger 

 than those of male. Back brown mixed 

 with rufous. Tail greyish brown. 



Distributio7i. — Europe and Asia. 

 Winter visitant in the Yangtse Valley. 



DAEKER KESTREL. 



CEECHNEIS SATURATUS BLYTH. 

 (Falco tinnunculus saturatus (Blyth).) 



Description. — Length thirteen and 

 one half to fifteen inches. Bill 

 bluish : Cere and legs yellow. 



Head ash-grey feathers streaked 

 with darker. A blackish oblique 

 streak near the angle of the mouth. 

 Neck bluish. Chin and throat whitish 

 and unspotted. Breast "pale yellowish 

 orange red," each feather streaked 

 with darker and with a spot near the 

 end. Upper back cinnamon red, shaft 

 of each feather grey with spot near the 

 end. Tail grey, but with a broad 

 subterminal band. 



Female has larger spots and the tail 

 has ten or more dark bars. 



Distribution. — Europe and Asia. 

 Resident in this part of the Yangtse 

 Valley. 



Nest and Eggs. — This bird some- 

 times builds in holes making a rough 

 nest, or it may take possession of the 

 deserted nest of a crow or magpie. 

 Like the other kestrels it usually lays 

 four or five eggs, the ground color of 

 which is white and they are variously 

 marked, blotched, mottled, or speckled, 

 with several shades of red from pale 

 red to crimson. 



