194 BIEDS OF EGYPT. 



The description is taken from a specimen in my collection 

 from Damanhoor, shot in April. 



Fig. Sliarpe and Dresser, B. of Eur. part i. 



181. Falco TiNNtTNCDLUs, Linn. Ki'strel. 



This is by far the most abundant Hawk in Egypt. On 

 one occasion I saw at least one hundred in a single clump 

 of palm-trees, doubtless attracted there by the locusts, which 

 were passing in dense, continuous clouds beneath them. In 

 1870 the flight of locusts spread throughout the country, 

 clearing whole districts of every green crop as they passed. 



Possibly it was owing to the good done by the Kestrel in 

 devouring these destructive insects that the ancient Egyptians 

 placed this Hawk among their sacred animals. 



Male. — Forehead buff; top of the head, nape, and ear- 

 coverts grey ; back and wing-coverts rich ferruginous brown 

 spotted with black ; rump and tail grey, the latter with a 

 broad black band at the end, the extreme tip of the feathers 

 being white ; underparts ferruginous bufi", spotted on the 

 chest with black ; cere, base of the bill, and legs yellow ; re- 

 mainder of the beak horn-blue ; clmos black ; irides brown. 



Entire length 13"5 inches; culmen 0"7 ; Aving, carpus to 

 tip, 9 '3 ; tarsus 1*5. 



The female differs in the absence of grey on its plumage, 

 being wholly rufous, with dusky bars on the back and tail. 



The young birds more or less resemble the female. 



Fig. Sharpe and Dresser, B. of Eur. part ii. 



