THE BIEDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
nests. I quite expected local birds would prove to be the Western Kestrel 
(C. unicolor).'''' 
In the Emu, Vol. IV., p. 1, July 1, 1904, A. W. Milligan gave a note 
entitled : “ Description of a New Kestrel from Western Australia.” I here 
reproduce the account to accompany the plate I had prepared from the type 
specimen years ago under the impression it was a valid form. Milligan wrote ; 
“ I have great pleasure in adding what I consider a new Kestrel to the list 
of Australian species. The bird was captured alive some weeks ago at Yalgoo, 
in the north-western portion of this State (where it is said to be a very 
common form), and sent to the Western Australian Zoological Gardens, Perth. 
The Director, Mr. Ernest Le Souef, and the head keeper of the Gardens, 
Mr. Giles, were, on its arrival at the Gardens, at once struck with its diminutive 
form and general rufous coloration, as compared with living forms of 
Cerchneis cenchroides (Vig. and Hors.) which they had in the Gardens. The 
new bird differs from the common form in not possessing any white or pale 
feathers on the under-parts of the body, those parts being a decided cinnamon- 
pink and making it very distinctive. In addition, the tail is not grey, but 
rusty-cinnamon, and the legs pea-green and not orange-yellow. It also is 
much smaller. The following is a specific description of an adult male : 
The whole of the upper surface is deep rusty-cinnamon, the crown and neck 
feathers with longitudinal black striations, the mantle with black arrow-heads, 
sparsely distributed, the wing-coverts and secondaries with narrow black 
crescentic markings. Tail-feathers (rusty-cinnamon, not grey) with black 
transverse bars, subterminal black band and whitish tips. Whole of under- 
surface, including under-surface of wings, cinnamon pink, paler than the 
upper-surface, with a few feathers of the breast striated with sepia. Ear- 
coverts inclining to greyish-brown. Narrow circle of feathers above eye, and 
a tuft below eye, blackish-brown. Culmen light reddish-blue ; cere light blue, 
with yellowish tinge : eyes and feet pea-green. 
“ Type in Western Australian Museum, Perth. 
“ Owing to the partiality of the bird for young chickens, it is known 
locally as the ‘ Chicken-Hawk.’ As a consequence, poultry-owners wage a 
ruthless war with members of the species. Cases have been recorded in Europe 
where Kestrels, when pressed hard for food, have had recourse to young 
game. I have not, however, observed this habit with the Nankeen Kestrel 
in Victoria or Western Australia, and have had splendid opportunities of 
observing their habits in both States. It is said that the common Kestrel 
of Europe is represented by a dark resident race in countries bordering on 
its southern range. Allowing for a tendency towards variability in size and 
colouring amongst members of the genus, I think, nevertheless, that upon 
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