31 



The ear-coverts and feathers on the nape have less white about them 

 than in F. islandus. This is especially true of the upper portion of the 

 ear-coverts and the central part of the nape. A dark lead-coloured 

 moustache present in most, hut not quite in all ; this is absent in 

 F. islandus. These differences are partially developed in birds of the 

 second year, but in the first year the two races are not distinguishable 

 by plumage. Length 20-21 inches. 



Adult. Above bluish grey, paler on rump, barred with a darker tint. 

 Crown, cheeks, ear-coverts, and short moustachial band blackish ; below 



white, with a buffy tinge on the breast, spotted on the throat and upper i fj 



breast, and barred on the lower breast with blackish ; cere, eyelids, and / /, 

 legs yellow. ' 



Young. Above brown, with buff margins to feathers ; below whitish, 

 with dark brown streaks ; tail irregularly barred, tipped with whitish 

 buff ; cere, eyelids, and legs blue. 



Length 15-20 inches. 



173. HOBBY. Falco subbuteo, Linnaeus. May to September, in 

 ^wooded districts only : rare in Scotland and Ireland. 



" Adult. Above bluish black, with black moustachial stripe ; throat and 

 breast white, occasionally tinged with buff, the breast striped with 

 black ; thighs and vent rusty red. 



Young. Buff edgings to feathers of back ; thighs and vent only very 

 slightly rufous. Very long wings. Length 12-14 inches. 



V- 1 i 



174. MERLIN. Falco cesalon, Tunstall. Resident. Breeding on 

 moorlands, chiefly from Derbyshire northwards. 



Adult male. Above slaty blue, with black shaft to each feather ; nape 

 rufous ; throat white ; underparts rufous, streaked with blackish brown ; 

 tail blue-grey, the end broadly banded with black and tipped with white. 

 Length 10 inches. 



Female. Very rarely lives to acquire the same plumage as the adult 

 male : in this country usually resembles young male, being above dark 

 reddish brown, margined with light brown ; nape whitish, spotted with 

 buff ; underparts white, broadly streaked with brown ; tail brown, 

 crossed with narrow bands of lighter brown and tipped with white. 

 Length 12 inches. 



175. RED-FOOTED- FALCON. Falco vespertinus, Linnaeus. Rare wan- E.Europe, 

 derer on migration ; chiefly to England. wi ?* e ^? g in 



Claws yellowish white. 



Adult male. Uniform lead-grey, except reddish-chestnut thighs, vent, 

 and under tail-coverts ; legs and feet red. 



Female. Above ash-grey, barred with bluish black ; head and nape 

 rufous ; below uniform dull chestnut. 



Young. Like female, but head, nape, and underparts streaked with 

 brown; outside tail-feather with both webs barred. Length 11-12 

 inches. 



