i8 THE RED-FOOTED KESTREL. 



reach South Africa, and by what route do they 

 travel ? C. amurensis has been found in India 

 on a few occasions only, but the bulk of the 

 individuals of this species go to South Africa. 

 Do they cross the sea from India to Africa ? or, 

 on the other hand, do they migrate from their 

 breeding-grounds in Eastern Siberia, and join 

 their western brethren on the Kirghis steppes, and, 

 with them, accompany the hordes of birds of prey, 

 which we know sweep into Equatorial and even 

 into Southern Africa during our winter season ? 



Some idea of the numbers of insect-eating 

 Hawks whi-'.h visit South Africa may be gathered 

 from a note by the late C. J. Andersson on the 

 present species. He says that the Red-footed 

 Kestrel usually arrives in Damara Land and 

 Great Namaqua Land about the rainy season, and 

 retires northwards again on the approach of the 

 dry season. He speaks of the Kestrels, Hobbies 

 and Kites appearing in " myriads," and one can 

 estimate the good these birds do in a country 

 where locusts abound. Of the Red-footed Kestrel, 

 he writes : " It is exceedingly abundant, and may 

 be counted by hundreds and thousands ; nay, 

 their numbers at times exceed all belief. On one 



