28 



unexpectedly in trees and hedges, and pursuing them even into woods), 

 game nestlings, mice and rats. In May the Sparrow-hawk either builds 

 a nest for itself, or appropriates a disused one, in a fairly high tree, 

 in which it lays from three to four, or sometimes five, very variably 

 marked eggs, usually pale bluish-white blotched with reddish-brown 

 (see British Bird Egg Cabinet, drawer 9). The male is always much 

 smaller than the female. 



Case 184. 



MERLIN {Falco wsalon). 

 Local name : Stone Falcon. 

 The Merlin is a resident, but by no means common, in our local 

 area, and as a breeding bird is more abundant in northern England and 

 Scotland than in England or Ireland. It occurs over all the mountain 

 districts of northern Europe and Asia. It feeds chiefly on small birds 

 such as larks, dunlins, etc., and often large moths, which it " flies 

 down " in the manner of the larger falcons. The Merlin nests usually 

 in a hollow scratched in the ground, sometimes on a rocky ledge and 

 very rarely in a tree, laying in May from four to six eggs (see British 

 Bird Egg Cabinet, drawer 8). The young of the Merlin and Sparrow- 

 hawk are very similar in appearance, but may be identified by the 

 colour of the eyes, the iris of the Merlin being dark brown, while that 

 of the Sparrow-hawk is yellow. 



Case 185. 



COMMON KESTREL {Falco tinmmculus). 

 Local name : Windhover. 



This hawk is common throughout our local area, as in all parts of 

 the British Isles and Northern Europe. Its food consists largely of 

 field mice, other small mammals, frogs and insects, and very 

 occasionally of small birds and chickens. It is a most useful bird to 

 the farmer and gardener. The Kestrel early in April lays its rather 

 variable eggs (see British Bird Egg Cabinet, drawer 8), three to seven 

 in number, in a disused nest of a crow, pigeon, etc., in wooded districts, 

 and also on the bare rock on shore cliffs. 



Case 186. 



PEREGRINE FALCON {Falco peregrinus). 



The Peregrine Falcon is rather a rare resident among the high 

 rocky fells of our local area. It frequents all the sea cliffs and uplands 

 of England and Wales, and especially of Scotland and Ireland, and 

 throughout the northern and temperate parts of Europe and Asia. 

 It has long been esteemed the best bird for the purposes of falconry. 



