QUAILS 75 



of a pair. The male is in the foreground, and the female is 

 sitting with her back to the camera. 



The Eastern Red-legged Kestrel (C. amurensis) is readily 

 distinguished from the oilier members of the genus by its 

 dark slate-black colour and orange-red coloured legs. 



It is a migrant from China ami Japan, where it breeds, 

 passing through India to South Africa. 



The Kestrels arc all gregarious at times, particularly the 

 migratory species ; or when swarms of locusts are passing 

 through a district. In the latter ease the Kestrels congre- 

 gate into large flocks and follow the swarm, devouring large 

 numbers of the locusts, and thus rendering invaluable aid 

 to the agriculturist. We have also seen several of the 

 species hawking flying ants on the wing. Besides locusts and 

 ants Kestrels feed on lizards, mice, scorpions and spiders. 



Only one solitary case of mischief against a Kestrel has 

 come under our notice during many years of collecting and 

 observing. In dissecting a Larger Kestrel on October 14, 

 1906, we found in its stomach, besides ants, spiders and a 

 lizard, the head and fragments of two full-grown Bar- 

 breasted Finches (Ortygosjpiza poly zona). 



QUAILS 



The Quails are amongst the farmers' best friends, as 

 they feed on weed and grass seeds, insects of various kinds 

 and locusts. 



The Americans fully recognise the claims of the Quail 

 to inclusion amongst the useful species, and in a pamphlet 

 issued by the United States Department of Agriculture in 

 1905, the economic value of these birds is fully discussed. 

 The following extract from Dr. C. H. Merriam's report 

 admirably sums up the results arrived at : " Investigation 

 shows the birds to be no less important in their economic 

 than in their other relations to man. They are found to be 



