62 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
in partial plumage, having the blue tail of the adult male, but retain- 
ing the rufous head of the old female dress. 
Fig. Sharpe and Dresser, B. Eur. part 2. 
56. CiRcHNEIS RUPICOLA. South African Kestrel. 
Tinnunculus rupicolus, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 22 (1867). 
This little Hawk is common all over the country as far as we haye 
been. Victorin met with it in the Karroo in January, and at the 
Knysna in March, and Mr. Rickard informs us that it is common 
both at East London and Port Elizabeth. Mr. Ayres found it in 
Natal, where it is not rare and breeds, but he has not yet procured 
it in the Transvaal, where its place appears to be filled by C. rupico- 
loides. Indeed it seems to be a more western bird in its range, as 
it has not been found in the Zambesi region, but Mr. Andersson says 
that it is very common in Damara and Great Namaqua Land, where 
it “is one of the few Hawks which remain in Damara Land during 
the dry season.” Senor Anchieta has shot this Kestrel at Huilla in 
Mossamedes, and at Capangombe in the interior of the same country. 
It extends its range likewise into Angola proper, as Mr. Monteiro | 
procured it in the neighbourhood of Ambriz. | 
This species takes the place in this colony of the Windhover of 
Europe, which it resembles closely in all its habits, hovering in the 
: 
air over small birds, mice, &c., and falling suddenly from a consider- 
able height upon its quarry. It nests in trees (or the high bushes — 
which do duty for trees in this country), and its eggs, 3—5, are 
similar in colour to those of the European birds, having a reddish- 
brown ground, profusely spotted with very dark marks of various | 
sizes and shapes. They, however, vary extremely, even to being pale 
cream-colour, with the minutest possible spots of brown. In size 
they also vary, but the shape is pretty constant, being rather round. 
Axis, 1’ 7’; diam. 1” 4’... Mr. Henry Buckley observes :— 
“My eggs vary from 1°57 x 1:25 inches, to 1:7 x 1°35, and are white 
in colour, suffused all over with very pale brown. My specimens are 
very much paler than those of the English Kestrel.” 
Adult.—Head, back, and sides of neck dull blue grey: back, belly, 
and shoulders deep rufous, with irregular black spots. Breast rufous, 
with black lines. Primary wing-feathers black; secondaries blackish, 
crossed with irregular rufous bands. Tail blueish grey, banded with 
