LESSER KESTREL. 



53 



place. Saunders thinks tliese two species occasionally interbreed (see 

 'Ibis/ 1871, p. 59). 



Tlie eggs of the Lesser Kestrel are very round, almost globular, with 

 but little difference between the larger and smaller ends. Their general 

 ground-colour is pale brick-red, with dark brick-red spots, which are 

 very generally diffused evenly over the whole surface, and very small, 

 occasionally forming large blotches. Others, again, have an almost white 

 ground-colour, with more than usually distinct spots and blotches, re- 

 sembling very much a similar type of the Common Kestrel. In fact the 

 eggs of the Lesser Kestrel go through the same varieties as the Common 

 Kestrel, but are smaller and of a paler and more bricky red instead of 

 blood-red. In size they vary from 1'45 to I'Sinch in length, and from 

 1'2 to 1-03 inch in breadth. 



The Lesser Kestrel resembles the Common Kestrel in colour very 

 closely ; but the males differ from our bird in being slightly smaller, in 

 having no black spots on the back, and in having the innermost secondaries 

 slate-grey instead of chestnut, and the claws white instead of black. The 

 females are more difficult to determine; but the smaller size and pale claws 

 of the Lesser Kestrel are the best characters. 



The Chinese Lesser Kestrel is a doubtfully distinct species, and only 

 differs from its western ally in having more slate-grey on the wing- 

 coverts. 



