a 
LESSER KESTREL. 53 
place. Saunders thinks these two species occasionally interbreed (see 
pibis,, 1871, p: 59). 
The eggs of the Lesser Kestrel are very round, almost globular, with 
but little difference between the larger and smaller ends. Their general 
ground-colour is pale brick-red, with dark brick-red spots, which are 
very generally diffused evenly over the whole surface, and very small, 
occasionally forming large blotches. Others, again, have an almost white 
ground-colour, with more than usually distinct spots and blotches, re- 
sembling very much a similar type of the Common Kestrel. In fact the 
eggs of the Lesser Kestrel go through the same varieties as the Common 
Kestrel, but are smaller and of a paler and more bricky red instead of 
blood-red. In size they vary from 1:45 to 1-3inch in length, and from 
1-2 to 1:03 inch in breadth. 
The Lesser Kestrel resembles the Common Kestrel in colour very 
closely ; but the males differ from our bird in being slightly smaller, in 
having no black spots on the back, and in having the innermost secondaries 
slate-grey instead of chestnut, and the claws white instead of black. The 
females are more difficult to determine; but the smaller size and pale claws 
of the Lesser Kestrel are the best characters. 
The Chinese Lesser Kestrel is a doubtfully distinct species, and only 
differs from its western ally in having more slate-grey on the wing- 
coverts. 
