THE KESTREL 



most southerly point recorded in the African range of 

 this falcon. This example, by the way, is, I believe, 

 still to be seen in the Norwich Museum. 



That hawks and falcons do migrate largely is proved 

 by the appearance of myriads of them with the rains in 

 South Africa, and their disappearance with the dry 

 season. During a swarm of white ants in the winged 

 stage, after heavy rain and hot sunshine in Bechuana- 

 land, I have seen hundreds upon hundreds of lesser 

 South African kestrels, western red-footed hobbies, 

 British hobbies (which migrate to South Africa), and 

 other raptorials suddenly appear — whence no man could 

 say — and so long as the swarm lasted prey with the 

 greatest eagerness and greed upon the myriads of fat, 

 yellowish white ants that thronged the atmosphere. It 

 was a truly wonderful sight. Other kestrels — the west- 

 ern grey-winged kestrel and the greater South African 

 kestrel — are found in various parts of southern Africa. 



In different parts of the world various other species 

 of kestrel are to be met with. Thus the Pekin kestrel 

 favours India and China. In America is found the 

 so-called " Sparrow-hawk," which is in reality a kestrel 

 {Tinnunculus sparverius), and ranges from the shores 

 of the Arctic Sea to Colombia ; this bird is replaced 

 further south by a sub-species, and in the Antilles by 

 the Carribbean kestrel. Another American kestrel is 

 Tinnunculus isabellimis, which is met with from Georgia 

 to the more northerly parts of South America. In 

 Cuba and San Domingo are found the Dominican 

 kestrel ; Tinnunculus alopex is found in Africa from 

 Nubia to Bogosland ; while the Seychelles, Mauritius, 

 Madagascar, and the Molucca and Sunda Islands all 

 have kestrels of their own. Even Australia and Tas- 

 mania can boast a distinct race of this falcon, known to 

 naturalists as Tinnunculus cenchroides. 



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