70 FALCONID^E. 



Nero) ; Durnford, Ibis, 1877, p. 39 (Chupat), p. 188 (Buenos Ay res), et 

 1878, p. 398 (Centr. Patagonia) ; Gibson, Ibis, 1879, p. 412 (Buenos Ayres). 

 Cerclmeis cinnamomina, Shatpe, Cat. B, i. p. 439. Tinnunculus cin- 

 namominus, Withinyton, Ibis, 1888, p. 470 (Lomas de Zamora). 



Description. Alove cinnamon-red, with irregular black cross bands on the 

 tack ; head bluish grey ; front and sides of head white ; nape and stripes on 

 the sides of the neck black ; wings bluish grey with black central spots ; 

 remiges black, with numerous white cross bars on the inner webs ; tail cinna- 

 mon-red, with a broad subterminal black band and white tip : beneath white, 

 with buffy tinge and irregular oval black spots : whole length 1O5 inches, 

 wing 7*7, tail 5'0. Female similar, but rather larger ; upper surface regularly 

 barred across ; beneath buffy white with brown shaft-stripes ; tail with 

 numerous cross bars. 



Hab. South America. 



The habits of this little Falcon closely resemble those of Falco 

 fusco-ccerulescens, and like that bird it is common in Patagonia and 

 migrates north in winter. Many individuals, however, do not migrate, 

 as I found when residing at the Rio Negro, where some pairs remained 

 at the breeding-place all the year. Many pairs are also found resident 

 and breeding in other parts of the Argentine country, but it is common 

 only in Patagonia. 



It nests in holes in cliffs and also on trees, and sometimes builds its 

 own nest on the large nest of a Dendrocolaptine bird or of a Parroquet. 

 It lays four eggs, large for the size of the bird, oval in shape, and white 

 in colour, thickly blotched with dull red. 



The preying habits of the Little Kestrel are similar to those of the 

 Orange- chested Hobby; it haunts farm-houses and plantations, and 

 spends a great deal of time perched on some elevation watching for 

 its prey, and making sudden dashes to capture it by surprise. But 

 though not bold when seeking its food, it frequently makes violent 

 unprovoked attacks on species very much larger than itself, either from 

 ill-temper or in a frolicsome spirit, which is more probable. 



Thus I have seen one drive up a flock of Glossy Ibises and pursue 

 them some distance, striking arid buffeting them with the greatest 

 energy. I saw another pounce down from its perch,, where it had been 

 sitting for some time, on a female skunk quietly seated at the en- 

 trance of her burrow, with her three half-grown young frolicking 

 around her. I was watching them with intense interest, for they were 

 leaping over their parent's tail, and playing like kittens with it, when 

 the Hawk dashed down, and after striking at them quickly three or 

 four times, as they tumbled pell-mell into their kennel, flew quietly 

 away, apparently well satisfied with its achievement. 



