228 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



creamy -white, so thickly covered with spots, 

 blotches, or clouds of dark reddish-brown, as to 

 almost completely hide the ground-colour. Some- 

 times the markings consist of small dots closely 

 and thickly scattered over the whole surface, and 

 in these the ground-colour becomes more apparent. 

 Only distinguishable from those of the Hobby and 

 Kestrel by the situation of the nest. Size about 

 1.6 by 1.2 in. (See Plate V.) 



Time, May and June. 



Remarks. Resident, but subject to a southern 

 migration in October. Notes : a shrill, chattering 

 cry. Local and other names : Blue Hawk, Stone 

 Falcon. Sits lightly, in some cases, but closely in 

 others. The bird figuring in the initial cut to 

 this article was so bold that I could not frighten 

 her off her eggs until I crawled from my hiding 

 tent only a few feet away. This our smal]est 

 member of the Falcon family is an exceedingly 

 plucky little bird, but unfortunately its numbers 

 have to be kept down on grouse moors on 

 account of the damage it does amongst the 

 young birds. 



YOUNG MERLINS IN THE NEST. 



