Quail. Such propensities, however, are in my opinion but a trifling counterpoise to the usefulness o f this
elegant b ird ; in fact it deserves protection instead o f that extermination which will be its fate if a more
friendly feeling than a t present exists cannot be created in its favour.
2 6 . T in n u n c u l u s c e n c h r is .
Lesser Kestrel.
In Ju n e 1 8 6 8 , the Museum o f the Yorkshire Philosophical Society was “ fortunate enough to obtain a fine
specimen, killed within a few miles o f York, o f a species o f Falcon, the occurrence o f which in this country
has, I believe, never before been authentically recorded, namely the Little Kestrel o f 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, o f Wilstrop Hall, n ear Green Hammerton, who shot it upon
bis farm at that place, after having observed it for some little time flying about. The date, he thinks, was
about the middle o f last November; but o f this he took no note, as he at first thought the bird was merely
a small and curious variety o f the common Kestrel. It, however, presents all the distinctive characters o f
limiunculus cenchris, among which the yellowish white claws may be mentioned as affording an easy means
o f 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.
2 7 . T in n u n c u l u s spa r v e r iu s .
American Kestrel.
A specimen o f this bird, killed in Yorkshire, is now in the possession o f the Rev. C. Hudson, o f Trowell
Rectory, near Nottingham, who states th at it has been in his possession for about twelve years, and that he
purchased it from a joiner named Brown, formerly living a t Thorpe Hall, who was an enthusiastic collector
of birds, and in the habit o f preparing them for people in that neighbourhood. Brown’s account o f the
bird, which he denominated the “ American Falcon,” was th at 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 o f 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 o f the American Kestrel, and not, as supposed, a second example o f the
T. cenchris.
Subfamily MILVINiE.
Genus M ilv us .
The true Kites, or the members o f this genus as now restricted, are birds of the Old World, over which
they are so generally distributed that, with the exception of New Zealand and Polynesia, one or other o f the
few species known are to be found in every part o f it. Their disposition is less cruel than that o f the true
Falcons ; and they feed principally on garbage; they are consequently useful scavengers, and, moreover,
arrant thieves.
2 8 . M ilvu s neosL.s ..........................................................................Vol. I. PI. XXII.
K it e or G l e d e .
The common Kite of England, which in Shakspeare’s time might probaby he hourly seen soaring over
the metropolis, is now, thanks to the exterminating hand of man, rarely to be seen in any part of the
conntry. I f a solitary pair should occasionally be met with, they should be hailed with reverence as being
almost the sole remnant of a departed race—so far as our islands are concerned i for iu Central and Eastern
Europe, Asia Minor, and North Africa the species still exists. The Kites build large grotesque untidy nests
o f moss, wool, rags, and rnbhish of every description; and when our species was plentiful, it must have kept
the housewife on the alert for her frills and furbelows hung out to dry on the village hedge, fully justifying
Shakspeare’s lin e:—
“ When the Kite builds look to lesser linen."
Inhabits Europe generally, Asia Minor, and North Africa.
™ . . . Vol. I. PI. XXIII.
2 9 . M ilv u s migrans
B lack K it e .
I have mentioned above the approximate extermination of the English K ite ; and I may now state that,
should such unhappily be the ultimate result, it seems likely that its place would he supplied by another
species, the Milvus migrans, which would seem to show some indication of an intention to come among us,
a t least in one instance, as will be seen on reference to my plate of the species, which was taken from a
specimen killed at Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Inhabits Central Europe, Siberia, Palestine, Afriea, and Australia, in whieh Utter country it is only an
accidental visitor.