“Seal 
CERCHNEIS RUPICOLOIDES. 63 
black, all its feathers broadly tipped with white, next to a broad 
black bar. Cere round eye bright-yellow; cere of bill and legs 
orange-yellow ; irides brown. Length of fresh-killed male, 11’’ 
(female, 14’’); wing, 10’; tail, 7’. 
This Kestrel is distinguished from C. tinnuneulus by its uniform 
blue side-face. 
Fig. Sharpe, P. Z. 8. 1874, pl. Ixvi. 
57. CERCHNEIS RUPICOLOIDES. Large African Kestrel. 
Tinnunculus rupicoloides, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 25 (1867). 
This Kestrel is very rare near the colony, but becomes more com- 
mon towards the Zambesi, where Mr. Chapman procured it in some 
abundance. Mr. Andersson observes that it is ‘‘ very sparingly met 
with in Damara Land, but isa little more frequent as one approaches 
the Orange River; it is also found at Lake N’gami.” Mr. Ayres 
says that it is one of the commonest Falcons in the Transvaal, 
Sir A. Smith gives the West Coast of South Africa, near the Orange 
River, and the interior to the north of that, as the chief habitat of 
this species; and states that unlike its congener, C. rupicola, it 
never perches on rocks. Mr. Henry Jackson has sent it with its 
eggs, from Nel’s Poort. The eggs resemble those of the preceding, 
but are rather larger. The nest was found in a tree, and the parent 
bird shot from it. It appears to be not uncommon in the Karoo, 
Mr. Jackson having sent numerous eggs and specimens. He 
writes, “this Kestrel was very rare here until quite lately. It has 
now quite taken the place of CO. rupicola, which was formerly very 
plentiful, but is now seldom seen.” Dr. Exton says, “‘it inhabits the 
open Veldt, perching on isolated trees and stumps.” He found 
it in considerable numbers in the interior. Eggs in Mr. Henry 
Buckley’s collection are stated by him to measure 1:75 x 1°35 
inches, and are white, blotched all over with pale brown. 
Head, neck, shoulders, and scapulars pale tawny, clouded with pale 
rufous; head and neck with black longitudinal stripes; back, 
shoulders, and scapulars have broad, brown transverse bars. Throat 
and under parts pale fawn; breast and belly striped brown ; quill- 
feathers brown, inner vanes banded pale rufous; tail brown, with 
about six white transverse bands ; tips of feathers white. Bill blueish 
black ; base of lower mandible yellow. Length, 16’’; wing, 12” ; 
tail, 8’. 
