138 
well as in Russia, Greenland, and the fur coun- 
tries of North America. It is abundant also in 
Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, &c. Its 
summer residence is in the northern parts of both 
Continents, from the colder temperate regions to 
the borders of the polarice. In winter it advances 
southward, and is common in Scotland, where it 
betakes itself chiefly to streams and lakes, but also 
to estuaries and the open sea. Many breed in the 
Hebrides, Orkneys, and Shetland Islands, forming 
a bulky nest, which they line with down. The 
female lays from five to ten oval eggs of a cream 
colour, or very pale buff, two inches and a half in 
length and an inch and three-fourths in breadth. 
ME REN. 
Fatco msaton, Mont. 
This, the smallest British species of the genus, 1s 
by no means uncommon in many parts of Scotland, 
where it remains all the year. It is also found 
frequently in the north of England, but in the 
middle and southern districts it occurs only in 
autumn and winter. Inferior as this species is in 
size, it fully supports the fearless and daring cha- 
racter of its tribe, frequently attacking birds supe- 
rior to itself in magnitude and weight. The Merlin 
