iil INTRODUCTION.
RONENOV LEE

it. Sucl Jensities, however, are in my opinion but a trifling counterpoise to the usefulness of this
Quail. Such propensities, ; }
| bird: in fact it deserves protection instead of that extermination which will be its fate if a more
elegant bird; 1 Tae s S

feeli ‘esent exists Cé -eated in its favour.
friendly feeling than at present exists cannot be cre

26, TINNUNCULUS CENCHRIS.

Lesser Kestrel.

7 2 AR oA RF r aac 66 . 6 ae
In June 1868, the Museum of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society was fortunate enough to obtain a fine

Se re Wak of a species of Falcon, the occurrence of which in thi "y
specimen, killed within a few miles of York, of a species of Falcon, he 1 this country

has. I believe, never before been authentically recorded, namely the Little Kestrel of South-eastern Europe
2 ’ ’

(Tinnunculus cenchris, Naum.). The specimen, which 1s 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 upon
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; but 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 cenchris, among which the yellowish white claws may be mentioned as affording an easy means
of identifying the bird.”

This bird has been forwarded by the authorities of the Museum for my inspection; and I find it to be, as
represented, 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 Rey. C. Hudson, of Trowell
Rectory, near Nottingham, who states that it has been in his possession for about twelve years, and that he
purchased 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 * Aterican. Falcon,” was that 72 was chou Mme Bridlington and
Bridlington Quay, one Sunday morning, by a man who sold it to him for eighteen pence. Through the

kindness of Mr. F Sa
tr. F. J. S. Foljambe, Mr. Hudson kindly sent up his bird for my inspection, when I found it

7’. cenchris.