334 NOTES ON SOME BIRDS COLLECTED ON THE NILGHIRIS 
[16.—Falco chiquera, Dowd. The Turum-tee. 
Has occurred at the base of the Nilghiris on the Bangalore 
road, and doubtless throughout the low country.—A. O. H.] 
17.—Cerchneis tinnunculus, Lin. The Kestrel. 
I obtained specimens of both races of the Kestrel on the 
Nilghiris—the pale migratory race and the dark rufous resident 
race. The dark resident race is not confined to the Nilghiris, 
but spreads through the Wynaad. I shot one near Karote at the 
foot of the Banasore Peak, and saw a couple of others on the 
Bramacherries. 
I think it not improbable that Dr. Jerdon was in error in 
stating that he found the Lesser Kestrel breeding on cliffs on the 
Nilghiris; he probably mistook it for the resident race of the 
common Kestrel, which does breed on cliffs, &e. A pair have, 
for many years, as long as I can remember, frequented and 
yearly bred on the cliffs at the entrance to Ootacamund from 
Coonoor. This year (January 1883) they are still there. 
The resident race is common on the Nilghiris and their 
slopes, frequenting the more open and cultivated tracts. They 
feed chiefly on reptiles, but occasionally at any rate on birds. 
I have seen one pounce down, seize and carry off a Quail 
(Microperdia erythrorhynchus). 
22.—Astur trivirgatus, Tem. The Southern-crested 
Goshawk. 
This species is not common on the Nilghiris and its slopes, 
but occurs somewhat more numerously in parts of the Wynaad. 
As a rule it keeps to the forest or its outskirts, but I have, on 
several occasions, seen it frequenting isolated trees on grassy 
land. It preys largely on small birds, but also seizes lizards 
and locusts. It is very quick and sure in its movements. On 
two occasions I have seen Hypsipetes ganeesa seized by it in 
thick jungle. It is not a shy bird, and when it has seized any 
prey it allows of a very near approach. Jerdon says that “it 
is not very rare in the Nilghiris, and occasionally commits 
depredations on pigeons, chickens, &e.”” It may not have been 
rare on the Nilghiris when he wrote, but my own experience 
is that in three or four months hard collecting on the Nilghiris 
one may secure two or three specimens during that time, 
whereas in the Wynaad, beetween Nellacotta and Devala, I 
have seen as many as five in one morning. As to its depreda- 
tions umong pigeons and chickens, I have never seen it come 
about houses. The bird that does commit sad havoc in poultry 
yards and dovecots is Bonelli’s Hagle (WVisaétus fasciatus). 
