THE LESSER KESTREL. 

 Falco cenchris, Naumann. 

 Plate 38. 



The visits of this small Falcon are few and far between, the number met with 

 in England amounting to eight, while it has once occurred in Scotland and once 

 in Ireland. It breeds in Southern Europe, from Spain, where it is extremely 

 abundant, eastwards through Western Asia to Bokhara and Persia, and also in 

 North Africa, migrating in winter to tropical and South Africa. 



The Lesser Kestrel makes no nest, its eggs, usually four or five and paler in 

 colour than the Common Kestrel's, are placed in holes in rocks, buildings, or ruins. 



It lives on insects. 



The female resembles that of the common species, but both sexes can be 

 always distinguished from our bird by their white claws. 



67 



