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countries is different from the Lesser Kestrel of Europe, and he has named the Chinese bird 

 Falco pekinensis. There can be little doubt that in this conclusion he is perfectly right. We 

 have compared Mr. Swinhoe's types, as well as two Indian specimens in Lord Walden's collection, 

 with others in our collection from Europe, and find the two species distinct. They are very 

 similar to F. cenchris, but everywhere darker in colour, the back more vinous in tint, and very 

 dark vinous red, almost chestnut, on the under surface, which is unspotted. The whole of the 

 wing-coverts also are blue-grey, only a few of them being slightly tinged with rufous. The 

 measurements of an Indian skin are as follows: — Total length 12 inches, culm. - 75, wing 9*1, 

 tail 6 - 2, tarsus 1. 



The present species has been said to have occurred twice in England, once near York and 

 once near Cambridge. The latter occurrence has been disproved, and we are very sceptical as to 

 the other supposed instance. Degland and Gerbe say that in France it has been seen in several 

 parts, particularly in Languedoc, Provence, and the Pyrenees. M. Philippe, of Bagneres-de- 

 Bigorre, states that " it breeds in some old ruins about twenty-six or twenty-seven kilometres 

 from this town." 



Naumann, who states that but little was known about this bird in his time, says that it is 

 one of the rarest stragglers to Northern Germany, and only knew of two occurrences in his part 

 of the country (Anhalt). These two examples are cited by Dr. Borggreve in his recent work as 

 the only instances of the occurrence of the bird in North Germany ; so that it has not been met 

 with since Naumann wrote. Gatke has, however, obtained it in Heligoland. In Styria 

 Seidensacher says : — 



" It is not an uncommon bird here, where it breeds on the ruins of the old castle, in hollow 

 oaks, church-towers, &c. It is a migrant, arriving at Cilli early in April (exceptionally) or late 

 in March. Towards the end of July or in August it leaves us, and only a single bird or so 

 remain until September. Besides grasshoppers, mice, &c, lizards are a favourite prey of this 

 bird. 



" In favourable seasons some females begin to lay early in May (in 1862 one egg was found 

 on 4th May), and generally the full complement of from four to five is found shortly after the 

 middle of that month. Near the nesting-places the old birds fly round nearly all day, uttering a 

 cry like psche, psch, psche, wsche, when the females have not commenced incubation, and at this 

 time they are not at all shy." 



Malherbe says it is "accidental during migration in Dalmatia, Italy, and Sicily;" and 

 regarding its occurrence in Savoy, Bailly writes : — 



" Hitherto it has been so rare in Savoy that it cannot be considered a regular migrant, 

 but merely an accidental visitor. It has only been observed in the southern valleys, on the 

 plains of Saint-Jean-la-Porte, Sainte-Helene-du-Lac, on the banks of the Isere, near Sainte-Pierre 

 dAlbigny, and, lastly, at Chambery and the marshy country in that neighbourhood." 



Mr. H. Saunders, in his paper on the Birds of Southern Spain, says : — 



"The majority arrive in March and April; but some remain in Andalucia all the winter. 

 The birds swarm about old buildings ; and hundreds may be seen any summer's evening in Seville 

 hovering round the statue of Faith which crowns the Giralda. It is a somewhat late breeder ; 

 for on the 16th of May I had difficulty in obtaining a complete clutch of eggs." 



