276 FALCONHXS; TINNUNCULUS 



the world except in the Pacific Isles. Of these fifteen occur in 

 Africa, and six here described from South Africa. 



The European Kestrel (T. alaudarms) has sometimes been in- 

 cluded among South African birds, notably by Sharpe in his edition 

 of Layard's work. The only recorded instance however of its 

 occurrence has been shown by Gurney to be due to a mistake in 

 identification. 



Key of the Species. 



A. Head blue or bluish, contrasting with 



the rufous back. 



a. Back spotted with black ; claws 



black .................................... T. rupicolus, ad. p. 276. 



b. Back without spots, claws pale horn T. naumanni, $ , p. 280. 



B. Head tawny-rufous like the back. 



a. Claws black, tail blue. 



a 1 . Larger wing about ll'O ; back and 



thighs transversely barred with 



black ................................. T. rupicoloides, p. 279. 



b 1 . Smaller wing less than lO'O ; back 



and thighs spotted with black... T. rupicolus, juv. p. 276. 



b. Claws pale horny; tail rufous like 



back ....................................... T. naumanni,jiiv. p. 280. 



C. Head, like the back, dark slate ; back 



unstreaked. 



a. Under wing-coverts slate, like the 



back .................................... T. vespertinus, # , p. 282. 



b. Under wing-coverts white, contrast- 



ing with the back ..................... T. amurensis, , p. 284. 



D. Head rufous, contrasting with the 



back, which is silvery-grey trans- 



versely banded with black ............ T. vespertinus, J , p. 282. 



E. Head and back dark brown, forehead 



and nape white .................. . ........ T. vespertinus, juv. p. 282. 



F. Head and back bluish-slate, the latter 



transversely banded with black ...... T. amurensis, J et juv. p. 284. 



G. Head and rump grey, contrasting with 



the black back ........................... T. dickinsoni, p. 285. 



508. Tinnunculus rupicolus. South African Kestrel. 



Le Montagnard, Levaill. Ois. d'Afr. i, p. 144, pi. 35 (1799). 



Falco rupicolus, Daud. Traite, ii, p. 135 (1800) ; Smith, 8. Afr. Quart. 



Journ. i, p. 237 (1830) ; Grill, K. Vet. AJfad. Handl ii, no. 10 p. 47 



(1858) [Knysna]. 



