BIRDS OF EGYPT. 195 



182. Falco cenchris (Cuv.). Lesser Kestrel. 



This bird ranges throughout Egypt and Nubia. It is 

 most abundant in spring and autumn, especially around 

 Alexandria, where Von Heuglin says that a few pairs remain 

 to breed in the walls of that town, 



I only shot it upon one occasion, in a wood near Benisouef, 

 on the 29th of March. 



Male. — Top of the head, nape, and ear-coverts, a band 

 across the wings, rump and tail grey ; remainder of the back 

 and wing-coverts bright chestnut, without spots ; tail similar 

 to that of the Common Kestrel; throat buff; remainder of 

 the underparts rosy buff, with small distinct black spots on 

 the chest ; cere, base of the bill, eyelids, and legs yellow, 

 claws yelloioish-white ; remainder of the beak horn-blue ; 

 irides brown. 



Female. — Plumage very similar to that of the Common 

 Kestrel, but the claws are yelloioisli white. 



Entire length 11'5 inches; culmen 0"8 ; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 9 ; tarsus \'2. 



The description is taken from a male specimen which 1 

 shot at Benisouef. 



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



183. MiLvus REGALis (Linn.). Common Kite. 



Riippell remarks of this species that it is abundant in 

 Lower Egypt, while Von Heughn says (Orn. N. 0. Afr. 

 p. 97) that neither he nor Brehm ever met with it there. 

 I know of no instance of its capture in Egypt, and am there- 



