298 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HLST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVII 



In the yoimg bird the barring of the feathers of the 

 upper parts is more distinct and there are more dark 

 bars generally. There is a slight rufescent tinge on 

 the lower parts and at the bend of the wing and the 

 head is more rufous than chestnut with dark shaft- 

 stripes. 



" Bill bluish black greenish yellow at the base ; 

 cere orbital skin and legs yellow ; irides rather light 

 brown " (Hume). 

 Measurements. Length of female about 14 ; tail 6 ; wing 9 ; tarsus 



1*6; mid-toe 1-5; bill from gape •9." (Blanford). 

 The male is smaller. 

 Habits, etc. The Turumti is well distiibuted throughout this 



country in suitable localities. It affects groves and 

 gardens or open plains bordered by trees and is not 

 to be found at high altitudes. 



They usually hunt in pairs and for the most part 

 prey on small birds. The flight of this species is very 

 • different to that of the Merlin when in pursuit of 



game being very straight and with regular beats 

 of the wings and not in jerks and " jumps ". This is 

 a plucky little falcon and can be trained to take the 

 Roller and the Hoopoe and occasionally partridges. 

 In its wild state I have seen them frequently pull down 

 a dove and on one occasion a Blue -rock Pigeon and 

 have caught them in a net with a mynah as a bait. 

 I cannot remember ever having seen one soaring. 



A pair I had used throughout one winter and which 

 had afforded me m^^ch sport I kept on through the 

 summer as pets and both became firm friends of a 

 couple of young mjrnahs which I had at the same time, 

 all fom- birds perching together on a towel horse in a 

 spare bathroom. 



The falcons were placed there earher in the after- 

 noon and the mynahs would make their way thither 

 of their own accord and sit alongside their erstwhile 

 enemies, in the most friendly and confiding manner. 



The Turumti breeds in the early spring laying 4 

 eggs in a neat little nest h'gh up in the fork of some 

 tree. The eggs are brownish red mottled and blotched 

 with darker red." 



Genus Tinnunculus. 

 No. 1265. Tinmmculus alaxidarius. The Kestrel, 



Characteristics. Size small length about 14" ; foot much smaller 



and weaker than in falcons, mid-toe without claw being 

 from two thirds to three fourths the length of the tar- 

 sus ; tail comparatively long and graduated the 

 outer rectrices being 1 to IJ inches shorter than the 

 middle pair ; upper rarts tinged with rufous through- 

 out T,itL biacK Lands in the females and young. 



Golouration. The top of the head, the sides and the nape ashy 



grey with dark shaft-stripes to the feathers ; ear-co- 

 verts and cheeks greyish or white and the forehead 



