LESSER KESTREL. 21 



having been shot by my friend Mr. John Harrison of Wilstrop 

 Hall, near Green Hammerton, a gentleman well known for his 

 abilities as an ornithologist. He has kindly given me the following 

 particulars of the occurrence : — 



About the middle of November 1867, this bird was observed 

 by him for some few days flying about his farm, and his curiosity 

 having been aroused by its diminutive size he at last shot it. 

 Still thinking it to be only a small and curious variety of the 

 common Kestrel, he took it to Mr. D. Graham of York for 

 preservation. Mr. Graham afterwards identified the bird and he 

 persuaded Mr. Harrison to present it to the York museum, where 

 I have seen it. Mr. W. S. Dallas, F.L.S., at that time curator of 

 the museum, informed Mr. Harrison that the specimen was a 

 mature, though apparently not an old male, presenting all the 

 distinctive characters of Tinnunculus cenchris, among which the 

 yellowish-white claws were mentioned. Mr. Harrison greatly 

 regrets his inability to supply the exact date, owing to his omission 

 to make a note of it at the time. The bird being undoubtedly a 

 Lesser Kestrel, and thus the authenticity of the occurrence resting 

 on Mr. Harrison's word, the writer, who has had the pleasure of 

 that gentleman's acquaintance for some years, would state that it 

 is quite beyond doubt. 



As this species is not included in any standard work on British 

 birds, perhaps a few remarks on its habits and distribution on the 

 continent, from Sharpe and Dresser's 'Birds of Europe,' may not be 

 considered out of place: — 



The Lesser Kestrel is spread generally over Southern Europe, 

 migrating in winter into Africa. It is only a rare and occasional 

 visitant in Northern Europe. In Spain it arrives in March and 

 April, but a few remain in Andalucia all the winter. Lord 

 Lilford, in his paper on the ornithology of Spain, says — " The two 

 species of Kestrel {F. Tinnimculus and F. Tinntmadoides 

 [Cenchns\) are, I think, in April and May the commonest birds in 

 Andalucia, with perhaps the exception of the Bee-eater {Merops 

 apiaster). Every church-steeple, belfry and tower, every town 



