276 FALCONID^ TINNUNCULUS 



the world except in the Pabific Isles. Ot these fifteen occur in 

 Africa, and six here described from South Africa. 



The European Kestrel {T. alaudarius) has sometimes been in- 

 cluded among South African birds, notably by Sharpe in his edition 

 of Layard's work. \ The only recorded instance however of its 

 occurrence has been shown by Gurney to be due to a mistake in 

 identification. 



Key of the Species. 



A. Head blue or bluish, contrasting with 



the rufous back. 

 a. Back spotted with black ; claws 



black T. rupicohts, ad. p. 276. 



6. Back without spots, claws pale horn T. naumanni, $ , p. 280. 



B. Head tawny-rufous like the back. 

 a. Claws black, tail blue. 



a'. Larger wing about ll'O ; back and 

 thighs transversely barred with 



black , T. rupicoloides, p. 279. 



6'. Smaller wing less than lO'O ; back 



and thighs spotted with black... T. rupicolus, juv. p. 276. 

 6. Claws pale horny; tail rufous lik-e 



back T. naumanni, juv. p. 280. 



C. Head, like the back, dark slate ; back 



unstreaked. 



a. Under wing-coverts slate, like the 



back T. vespertinus, J*, p. 282. 



6. Under wing-coverts white, contrast- 

 ing with the back T. amurensis, J* , p. 284. 



D. Head rufous, contrasting with the 



back, which is silvery-grey trans- 

 versely banded with black T. vespertinus, ? , p. 282. 



E. Head and back dark brown, forehead 



and nape white T. vespertinus, juv. p. 282. 



F. Head and back bluish-slate, the latter 



transversely banded with black T. amurensis, ? e^yai;. p. 284. 



G. Head and rump grey, contrasting with 



the black back 'T:.dicMnsoni,p. 285.; 



508. Tinnunculus rupicolus. South African Kestrel. 



Le Montagnard, Levaill. Ois. d'Afr. i, p. 144, pi. 35 (I799). 



Paloo rupicolus, Baud. Traite, ii, p. 135 (1800) ; Smith, 8. Afr. Quart. 



Joum. i, p. 237 (1830) ; Orill, K. Vet. Altad. Handl. ii, no. 10 p 47 



(1858) [Knysna]. 



