the Birds of Mauritius. 85 



1. FaLCO PEREGRINUS. 



Falco communis Sliarpe, Cat. Birds, i. p. 376. 



Peregrine Falcon. 



A single specimen of this Falcon was killed many years 

 ago in the month of December after a hnrricane. The skin 

 is now at Cambridge {Oustalet). 



Monsieur Carrie, of Mauritius, thinks that he saw a bird of 

 this species in 1910 near Mahebourg. 



2. Falco concolor. 



Falco concolor Sharpe, Cat, Birds, i. p. 405. 

 The Newton Collection at Cambridge contains a specimen 

 killed at Mahebourg. 



3. TiNNUNCULUS PUNCTATUS. 



(Jerchneis punctata Sharpe, Cat. Birds, i. p. 434. 



Kestrel. Mangeur de Ponies. 



This Kestrel is fairly well distributed throughout the 

 island. It is peculiar to Mauritius, but has wandered to 

 the neighbouring island of Bourbon, where it has been shot. 

 It is not very shy of man. 



Its habits of hovering and its noisy cries during the 

 breeding-season seem identical with those of the English 

 Kestrel. One observed near the Morne was seen to seize 

 a shrew-mouse (an introduced species). 



4. * CORVUS SCAPULATUS. 



Corvus scapulatus Sharpe, Cat. Birds, iii. p. 22. 



On three occasions has this Crow been introduced from 

 either Madagascar or Africa, but it has never gained a 

 foothold and has now ceased to exist. It probably never 

 stood a chance against the local gunner, who kills every bird 

 he can, whether game or not. 



In Grant's ' History of Mauritius ' (1801) we read : 

 '' Several couples of ravens had been let loose in the woods, 

 to destroy the rats and mice, of which there remain but 

 three males. The inhabitants accused them of devouring 

 their chickeus,^' 



