CERCHNEIS. 79 



76. Cerchneis pekinensis, Swinfi. P. Z. S. 1870, pp. 44?, 44 8; 



Sharpe, Cat. Ace. B. M. p. 437. Erythropus cenchris, Jerd B. 2nd. i. p. 40, 

 No. 18 } Hume, Rough Notes, i. p. 103. The LESSER KESTREL. 



Adult Male. Similar to C. Naumanni, but darker and more vinous red 

 above ; below darker colored and Unspotted. Wing coverts entirely blue grey, 

 the innermost washed with rufous. (Sharpe). 



Length. Male 12 inches ; wing 9*6 ; tail 5'8 ; tarsus 1-45 j bill O'8. The 

 female is larger and Mr. Hume's measurements of one from Coimbatoor, are 

 as follows: Length, 13 inches; wing 975 ; tail 675 ; tarsus r8i. Bill from 

 gape o'SS. Bill plumbeous, dark at the tips. 



Hob. South and South-East Europe ; North Africa, Abyssinia, the Hima- 

 layas; (Nepaul;) Umballa, and Delhi (Punjab and N.-W. Provinces) Oudh, 

 Bengal, the Concan, Deccan and South India; also N.-E. Cachar. 



Nothing is known of the breeding of this species in India, beyond what 

 Dr. Jerdon mentions of his having found it breeding on the cliffs of the 

 Neilgherries in May and June. In the Ibis for 1865, Mr. Tristram 

 gives a full account of its nidification in Palestine. According to him, it breeds 

 in communities, usually in narrow fissures of rocks or crevices of ruins ; 

 the Common Kestrel too breeding in the same place. Although closely 

 allied, the eggs of both species are not difficult to discriminate. There is 

 no regular nest and the eggs, 4 in number, are placed in a depression in the 

 bare wall, amongst bits of lime with the hard parts of Coleopterous and other 

 insects, which form the food of this species, The eggs, by Degland's account, 

 quoted by Bree, are very short, smaller than those of the Common Kestrel, of 

 a mingled reddish white color, with a great number of minute spots of a 

 brick red, together and mixed with small brown spots. The figure by Bree 

 measures according to the drawing 1*42 by 1*17 inches. 



77. Cerchneis amurensis, Homey, J. F. 0. j868, p. 251 ; Sharpe, 



Cat. Ace. B. M. p. 445. Erythropus amurensis, Gurney, Ibis. 1868, p. 251. 

 Erythropus Vespertinus, Swinh.Jbis. 1861, pp. 253,327 ; Jerd. B. Ind. i. p. 40. 

 No. 19 ; Hume, Rough Notes, i. p. 106 ; Jerd. Ibis, 1871, p. 243. Hypotriorchis 

 concolor, Gurney, Ibis. 1866, p. 127. The Red LEGGED HOBBY. 



Adult Male. Above leaden black, paler on the lower back and secondaries ; 

 greater wing-coverts and primaries washed externally with silvery grey; tail 

 greyish black above, paler below ; under surface of body pale grey ; lower 

 abdomen, thighs, vent and under tail coverts bright chestnut ; under wing 

 coverts and axillaries pure white. Cere, orbits and feet dark orange ; claws 

 whitish ; bill yellowish horn color, blackish at tip ; iris hazel. 



Length. 9*5 inches ; culmen 075 ; wing 9 ; tail 5*3 ; tarsus 1*15. 

 Adult female, is dull leaden grey above, darker on the interscapulary region, 

 clearer on the scapulars, lower back and rump, all the feathers crossed by 



