MERLIN. 39 
Although the Merlin arrives on the moorlands from its winter haunts 
late in March or early in April, it is a somewhat late breeder. The 
date of nidification is evidently chosen with relation to an abundant 
supply of food for the young. As in the Cyclades Eleonora’s Falcon 
(Falco eleonore) postpones its operations until August, so that the young 
may be fed upon the flocks of Quails returning southwards on their 
autumn migrations, the Merlin lays its eggs about the middle of May, so 
that the voracious young may be fed upon young Grouse. ‘The site 
selected for the nest varies in different localities; for in Lapland both 
Wolley and Wheelwright mention instances of nests being found in trees, 
and Collett says that in South Norway it frequently takes possession of an old 
nest in a tree, like the Kestrel. On the Faroes it is said to breed on the 
cliffs. On our own moorlands a site is chosen on the ground in the tall 
heather, or in some flat spot amongst the rocks on the steep slopes at the foot 
of the precipitous ridges so often met with in these localities. The site 
usually slopes down to a stream and is one that commands a good view of 
the surrounding country. In most cases a small hole is made; whatever 
roots and dry grass may chance to be upon the spot are scratched into the 
rudiments of a nest; and the only materials actually selected by the bird 
appear to be a few slender twigs of “ling” to form the outside of the 
structure, and which are generally broken from the heather overhanging 
the nest. When on the rocky slopes, it is usually made under a heather 
tuft, or beneath a mass of coarse herbage, and is then but a mere hollow 
in the scanty soil, as often without a few ling-twigs as with them. The 
eges of the Merlin are usually five in number, sometimes only four, and 
somewhat rounded in form. In colour they closely resemble those of the 
Kestrel and the Hobby; but the colour is a more decided brown, 
without the brick-red tints so commonly seen on newly laid eggs of those ' 
birds. Like all Falcons’ eggs, they differ considerably in size and intensity 
of colour, varying through all the types of Falcons’ eggs figured on 
Plate 4, with the exception of the Sparrow-Hawk’s. Some specimens are 
deep reddish brown, so richly coloured as to hide all trace of the ground- 
colour ; others are pale red, with most of the deep brown confined sometimes 
to the large end and sometimes to the small end. Some specimens are pale 
cream in ground-colour, evenly and beautifully marbled with deep purplish 
red, or finely dusted over the entire surface with minute specks of blackish 
brown. ‘The eggs of the Merlin vary from 1°65 to 1°5 inch in length, and 
from 1:2 to 1:15 inch in breadth. Like most birds of prey, the Merlin 
exhibits very little outward anxiety when its nest is approached; but 
sometimes, especially if there be young birds in the nest, it will fly 
round in circles, occasionally uttering a low tremulous scream, a note 
resembling the call of the Kestrel. 
When the young are strong upon the wing and well able to shift for 
