82 



Catalogue of the Birds 



[July 



deep brown ; quills and tail blackish grey. Length of female 17 — 17i 

 inches: of a male bird I4| ; wings to end of second quill lOf ; tail 5 J; tarsus 

 1£: middle toe 2h It differs in structure from the Peregrine in having 

 a shorter wing, shorter tarsus, arid in the 3d quill (if my specimen is 

 in perfect plumage) being considerably shorter than the first. 



The Shaheen is said to be very speedy, even more so than the 

 Peregrine, though it will not hold out so long. 



30. — F. chicquera, Lath. — F. ruficollis, Swain. — Fem. Turoomtee — male 



Chetwa, H. 



The specific name of Chicquera has been erroneously applied to 

 this species, being the Indian name for the common sparrow hawk of 

 the country. It corresponds in colouring exactly to the description 

 by Swainson of his supposed new species ;* the black marks round the 

 ear and beneath the eye, supposed by him to distinguish his ruficollis, 

 are always present. It is generally, however, a larger bird. The tu- 

 roomtee frequents patches of wood or single trees in the open country, 

 and even gardens. It is found in all parts of the peninsula, is a bird 

 of great courage and activity, generally hunts in pairs, rising alternate- 

 ly over their prey, and sometimes following closely on the w r ing. I 

 have seen it hover, occasionally, though rarely. It preys chiefly on small 

 birds. Mr. Elliot has, " will not suffer other birds to approach their 

 perch, but drive away even the wolchab, hovering over him with 

 shrill cries. The turoomtee is occasionally reclaimed and flown 

 at small birds, especially at the common jay or roller (Coracias Bencja- 

 lensis), in pursuit of which much amusement is afforded from the clum- 

 sy evolutions and harsh cries of the quarry." Naked space round eyes, 

 cere and base of bill yellow ;legs do. ; length 14 — 15 inches, — of chetwa 

 11 — 12. Tail exceeding wing by nearly two inches. 



21. — F. tinnunculus, L. — Kestril or windhover. — Nurzee NurzanucJc, H. 



The kestril is an extremely common and abundant bird, frequenting 

 chiefly the open plains and bare rocky hills. Its chief food is lizards, 

 also large insects, and occasionally young birds. The male is occasion- 

 ally as large as the female. 



* V. Birds of West Africa, vol. 1. % 



