XXXVlll 
INTRODUCTION. 
Quail. Such propensities, however, are in my opinion but a trifling counterpoise to the usefulness of this 
elegant bird ; in fact it deserves protection instead of that extermination which will be its fate if a more 
friendly feeling than at present exists cannot be created in its favour. 
26. Ti.vnunculus cenchris. 
Lesser Kestrel. 
In June 1868, the Museum of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society was “fortunate enough to obtain a fine 
specimen, killed within a few miles of York, of a species of Falcon, the occurrence of which in this country 
has, I believe, never before been authentically recorded, namely the Little Kestrel of South-eastern Europe 
{Tinnunculus cenchris, Naum.). The specimen, which is a mature but apparently not an old male, was 
presented to the Museum by Mr. John Harrison, of Wilstrop Hall, near Green Hammerton, who shot it xipon 
his farm at that place, after having observed it for some little time flying about. The date, he thinks, was 
about the middle of last November ; hut of this he took no note, as he at first thought the bird was merely 
a small and curious variety of the common Kestrel. It, however, presents all the distinctive characters of 
Tinnunculus cenchis, among which the yellowish white claws may he mentioned as affording an easy means 
of identifying the bird.” 
Ibis bird has been forwarded by the authorities of the Museum for my inspection ; and I find it to be, as 
re])resented, an example of the above species. I have not, however, figured this bird ; it would be desirable 
to see other examples. 
27. Tinnunculus sparverius. 
American Kestrel. 
A specimen of this bird, killed in Yorkshire, is now in the possession of the Rev. C. Hudson, of Trowell 
Rectory, near Nottingham, who states that it has been in his possession for about twelve years, and that he 
jmrchased it from a joiner named Brown, formerly living at Thorpe Hall, who was an enthusiastic collector 
of birds, and in the habit of preparing them for people in that neighbourhood. Brown’s account of the 
bird, which he denominated the “American Fcdcon,” was that it was shot between Bridlington and 
Bridlington Quay, one Sunday morning, by a man who sold it to him for eighteen pence. Through the 
kindness of Mr. F. J. S. Foljambe, Mr. Hudson kindly sent up his bird for my inspection, when I found it 
to be a very fine adult male of the American Kestrel, and not, as supposed, a second example of the 
T. cenchris. 
