160 Ceylon Ornithology. 



wing coverts, rufous, barred with brown ; quills barred with 

 rufous on their inner webs. Bill bluish, darker on the tip ; 

 cere and orbitar skin pale yellow ; irides dark brown ; legs 

 and feet yellow. Length 15 inches. Wing 11 inches. Tail 

 inches. Tarsus nearly 2 inches.- Centre toe and claw 

 2 J inches. "Weight lib. 



The young female "differed from the male in having the 

 chin, throat and cheeks white, in the rufous edgings to the 

 feathers being very indistinct, and the plumage generally 

 being of a darker hue." 



" After the first moult, the markings of the lower surface 

 disappear, except a few on the lower part of the abdomen and 

 leg feathers, the plumage above becomes more of a bluish 

 tinge, and the edgings and barrings disappear ; with further 

 moultings, the shade of the plumage above becomes still 

 lighter, and of a slaty blue, the markings beneath vanish 

 entirely, and the rufous tint of the breast becomes paler." 



This handsome Falcon "is found throughout the whole of 

 India, from the Himalayas to the extreme south of the Penin- 

 sula. It is well known to native Falconers." In Ceylon 

 we presume it is a rare bird, as Mr. Layard only met with 

 one specimen during his eight years' residence in the Island. 



Tinnunculus Alaudarius, Brisson. The Kestrel Falcon, 



Syn. Falco alaudarius, Brisson. 

 Falco Tinnunculus, Linn. 

 Falco fasciatus, Reszius. 

 Falco bruneus, Bechotim. 

 Falco rufescens, Sioainson. 

 Falco interstinctus, McClelland. 



Head and neck pale ash with blackish shafts. Cheek paler, 

 a darker streak from the mouth downwards. Back and upper 

 wing coverts cinnamon brown with triangular black spots at 



