196 FALCOA'JD^E. 



tipped with white on a broad black band ; back pale chestnut, with small 

 black spots. 



Female and young. Above entirely rufous, banded with black; tail rufous, 

 with black bands and tipped with a broad black band. Old females occa- 

 sionally partially assume male plumage, being marked with blue on rump 

 and tail. Length 13-15 inches. 



209. Falco cencriris, Naumanu. The Lesser Kestrel. 



Moorish. Souif (Faoier}. Spanish. Primilla. 



" Is nearly as abundant near Tangier as the Common Kestrel, 

 passing to Europe in February and March, returning during 

 August and September." Favier. 



The Lesser Kestrel is almost entirely migratory, though a few 

 remain at Gibraltar during winter. Vast numbers nest there, 

 chiefly on the steep face of rock on the North Front. These 

 birds arrive about the loth of February ; but I saw a great flight 

 passing as late as the 4th of April. Probably these were birds 

 which would breed much further north. They nest on rocks and 

 ruins, particularly on the old Moorish buildings and towers, of 

 which there are so many in Andalucia. In some, as for instance 

 at Las Alcantarillas, near Seville, they swarm like bees at a hive, as 

 also at Seville ; while, curiously enough, at Cadiz they were absent. 



So far as I am aware, the Lesser Kestrel never nests on trees 

 like the common species. At the Goto del Key, on the 26th of 

 April, I took a nest with four eggs out of a hole in a wall which 

 was within reach of the ground, In the Crimea, I remember, 

 they nested in holes of river-banks. On the 12th of May, near 

 Marchena, we obtained sixty eggs out of an old tower, and might 

 have taken as many more. Some of these eggs were hard sat-on ; 

 and the old birds were caught on the nest, to be released after 

 examination. The eggs varied very much, a few being almost 

 colourless, others half white, half red, piebald in appearance. 



Adult male. Much resembles Common Kestrel, but is smaller, and has 

 the back uniform pale chestnut without any spots. 

 Female. Much as female of last. 

 Length 12| inches. Claws white. 



