3 o8 



CASSELL'S LOOK OF fSIRDS. 



and tail, but are recognisable by their lax and streaming plumage, the comparative weakness of the 

 quills that form the wings, the length of the tail, their strong and short-toed feet, and, lastly, by the 

 difference in the colour of their feathers, which varies with the sex. 



THE LARK KESTREL. 

 The Lark Kestrel {Tinnunculus alaudarius) is a very handsome bird, about twelve and a half 

 inches long, and twenty-seven broad ; the wing measures nine inches and a quarter, and the tail six 



inches and a quarter. The feathers upon the 

 head, nape, and tail of the male are grey, ter- 

 minating in a blueish-black patch, bordered with 

 white ; the mantle is of a beautiful yellowish red, 

 each feather being tipped with a triangular spot ; 

 the throat is whitish yellow, the breast and belly 

 reddish grey or pale yellow, streaked longitudi- 

 nally with black ; the wing-feathers are black, 

 marked with from six to twelve triangular white 

 or reddish spots upon the inner web, and have a 

 light border towards the tip; the pupil of the 

 eye is dark brown, the beak greyish brown, the 

 cere and bare places round the eyes are greenish 

 yellow, and the feet lemon colour. The cheeks 

 are ornamented by a very distinct streak. In 

 the female the upper part of the body, as far as 

 the top of the back, is of the hue of red chalk, 

 marked with longitudinal black marks ; the fea- 

 thers on the back are ornamented with irregular 

 spots, the tail is greyish red, with broad and 

 narrow stripes, and the rump is grey. The 

 colours upon the lower parts of the body are 

 the same as those of the male. The plumage 

 of the young birds resembles that of the mother. 

 This species is found throughout the whole 

 of Europe, especially frequenting mountainous 

 districts ; it is most numerous in the southern 

 countries of our continent, where it is considered 

 as a summer bird, and whence it migrates as 

 winter approaches. It usually frequents lofty trees, old ruins, and rocks, where it constructs its eyrie. 

 The nest externally resembles those of its congeners, but is lined with roots, stubble, moss, and the 

 hair of various animals. The brood consists of from four to seven round eggs, of a white or reddish- 

 yellow colour, spotted with brownish red. The care of hatching the young family devolves entirely 

 upon the female parent, who feeds her charge principally with mice and insects ; they will also eat 

 lizards, frogs, or young birds. 



THE KESTREL. 

 The Kestrel {Tinnunculus cenchris) is a species very similar to the bird above described, and 

 likewise inhabits the southern countries of Europe. The male is twelve inches long and twenty- 



THE LARK KESTREL (Tinnunculus alaudarius.) 



