BRITISH BIRDS. 139 



would have been impossible to distinguish from British-killed Kestrels.'' The 

 account should be read ; it is too long to quote. The author mentions the 

 very deep rufous tints of the Kestrels of Madeira and Abyssinia. 



In the ' Birds of Shetland,' by Henry L. Saxby, M.D. Tp. 28), we find 

 the following : — " I was at first not a little surprised on observing the 

 exceedingly pale and faded appearance of the plumage of Kestrels killed in 

 Shetland, especially in autumn ; but this may easily be accounted for by their 

 constant exposure to the damp sea-mists, both during the time of incubation 

 and while hovering about the country in search of prey, the red colours in the 

 plumage of birds being most liable to fade." Something is to be ascribed to 

 the extra beauty of the breeding-dress, the plumage being commonly brighter 

 at the breeding-season ; but a mere climatal variation, as I suspect, does duty 

 and takes rank as a specific difference in certain cases. 



In the ' Proceedings of the Zoological Society,' 1874, part iv. p. 580, 

 plate Ixviii., Mr. R. Bowdler Sharpe has an article upon the common Kestrel, 

 and in particular a female, which he figures. 



On March 29, 1873, a male was killed at Polegate, Sussex, which I 

 purchased. It had evidently only just arrived, and was then a beautiful and 

 bright specimen, which attracted my attention from being shot with blue all 

 over the back and breast, faintly washed, as it seemed, over the other 

 markings — the same sort of blush which I have observed in various colours 

 pervading birds at the breeding-season. The specimen is now before 

 me ; and I remark how much even this short lapse of time has caused 

 it to fade. 



