A BIRDLOVER'S YEAR 



an instance of this small falcon striking 

 down a bird of double its own weight. 

 Along with most of the other birds of prey, 

 the merlin is becoming daily scarcer on the 

 British breeding list, being found only in 

 wild and mountainous districts, and usually 

 nesting on the open moor. 



Falconers were accustomed to fly this little 

 falcon at snipe, larks, and thrushes, whilst 

 the stronger female merlins took pigeons on 

 the wing. 



The Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is the 

 commonest representative of the group of 

 small falcons, and is found breeding all over 

 the British Isles. As it is the only diurnal 

 bird of prey which wages incessant war 

 against mice, voles, beetles, &c., it deserves 

 far more protection from agriculturists than 

 it receives at present. There is a difference 

 in the colour of the plumage of the two 

 sexes, though the cock is only very slightly 

 smaller than the hen. The eyesight of this 

 falcon is quite remarkable, as from an 

 immense height it " spots " its prey on the 

 ground beneath, and drops upon it with 

 unerring aim. 



The " wind-hover " is a most appropriate 

 140 



