THE PEREGRINE FALCON 31 



Only one brood is reared in the year ; but if the first clutch 

 of eggs is taken, in some cases another lot is laid. When the 

 young are hatched, the old birds become even more daring 

 and eager in their pursuit of birds. As they grow up, 

 the old birds are taxed to the utmost in finding food for 

 them. As soon as they can fly, their parents generally desert 

 them and drive them away from their birthplace for ever. 

 These young birds wander about a good deal, and often visit 

 localities in which old birds are rarely if ever seen. 



Before leaving the Birds of Prey I intend briefly to 

 notice a few other species in this important family, more 

 especially to enable the young naturalist to identify them, 

 should they chance to fall in his way. The first of these 

 is the Hobby {Falco subhuteo), a summer visitor to the 

 British Islands, though slowly decreasing in numbers through 

 incessant persecution. It is a miniature Peregrine in appear- 

 ance, and resembles that bold bird in many of its habits. It 

 is, in fact, the Peregrine of the woodlands, and loves to 

 frequent the dense forests and tree-grown country, where it 

 wages a relentless war on the small birds, mice, and 

 coleopterous insects. It is a late breeder, rearing its young 

 when the small birds and young game are plentiful. Like 

 the Kestrel it is no nest-builder, but takes possession of a 

 deserted nest of a Crow or Magpie, in which it lays four or 

 five eggs, similar to those of the Kestrel in colour and size, 

 but a little browner. 



The second species is the Merlin {Falco ccsalon), which in 

 summer frequents the upland heaths and mountain moor- 

 lands, and in winter the lower country, resembling in this 

 respect the Meadow Pipit and the Twite. It is a true 

 Falcon, full of pluck and vigorous dash in pursuit of its 

 prey, and most persistently attached to the haunts of its 

 choice. I am of opinion that many Merlins visit this 

 country every winter from Northern Europe and Iceland. 



