MERLIN AND MOORHEN 67 



MERLIN (Falco cesalon) 



Local Names. — Blue Hawk, Sparrow Hawk, Stone Falcon (young). 

 Haunt. — Moors, mountains, and cliffs and dunes near the sea. 

 Nesting Period. — May and June. 



Site of Nest. — Mountains, rocks, precipices, and on the ground. 

 Materials Used. — A few heather twigs, scantily lined with dry grass 



or rootlets ; often none. 

 Eggs. — Four. Reddish-brown, with mottling of a deeper shade. 

 Food. — Blackbirds, fieldfares, partridges, skylarks, snipe, thrushes, 



and dunlins near the sea. 

 Voice. — A shrill chatter and a tremulous scream. 

 Chief Features. — Another Hawk which has disappeared from many 



of its former haunts. It is the smallest British Hawk. From 



its habit of sitting on a stone, or bare rock, it has acquired the 



name of Stone Falcon. 

 Plumage. — Greyish-blue above; reddish-yellow underneath, spotted 



with dark brown; tail barred with black; bluish beak, darker 



towards the tip; yellow cere; dark-brown iris; yellow feet; 



black claws. In the female the upper parts have a brownish 



tinge, while underneath they are yellowish-white. Length. — 



From eleven to twelve inches. 



MOORHEN {Gallinula chloropus) 



Local Names. — Common Gallinule, Cuddy, Gallinule, Great Gallinule, 

 Marsh Hen, Moat Hen, Moor Coot, More Hen, Water Hen. 



Haunt. — Rivers, lakes, and ponds. 



Nesting Period. — March to August. 



Site of Nest. — Among reeds or rushes 

 near water, also in trees over- 

 hanging same. 



Materials Used. — Dry reeds and rushes, 

 with a finer lining of sedges and 

 dry grass. 



Eggs. — Seven to Twelve. Reddish- 

 yellow, blotched or spotted with 

 orange-brown. 



Food. — Slugs, snails, worms, insects, 



and plants. Pi g- 22 . Young Moorhen. 



Voice. — A guttural " crr-o-ok." 



Chief Features. — At once distinguished by dark plumage and red 

 patch behind the bill. The young are sooty-black, and can 

 swum the moment they emerge from the egg. The flight is 

 rapid, but not long sustained. 



E 



