BIRDS OF THE COMMONS 67 



MERLIN (Falco cesalon}. 



Fairly well distributed, but rarer in the South ; most 

 abundant in Wales, North of England and Scotland ; 

 fairly common in Ireland. 



Haunts. Moorland and mountainous districts. 



Observation. Our smallest Falcon ; note absence of 

 moustachial streak. 



Plumage. Upper parts slaty grey, with dark shaft to 

 each feather ; under parts rufous, longitudinally streaked 

 with dark brown. Broad black bar near tip of tail ; 

 tip white. Bill bluish, darker at the tip. Cere and legs 

 yellow. Length 10 in. Female : dark brown above, 

 with dark shafts to each feather ; tail dark brown, with 

 six ruddy buff bands, and tipped with buffish white ; 

 chin and throat white ; under parts white, striped with 

 dark brown ; length 12 in. Young resemble female, 

 but more rufous. Nestling covered with white down 

 tinged with buff. 



Language. A sharp, shrill cry, much like the Kestrel's. 



Habits. Courageous and fearless. It flies near the 

 ground with rapid, skimming flight. It is fond of perch- 

 ing on rocks. 



Food. Small birds chiefly. 



Nest. April or May. One brood. 



Site. On the ground among heather, rarely in trees. 



Materials. A few sprigs of heather. 



Eggs. Four to six. Reddish, well spotted, and 

 marked with brick-red. Much like the Kestrel's, but 

 smaller. 



HEN HARRIER (Circus cyaneus). 

 Nowadays extremely local and rare. 

 Haunts. Moorland country. 



Plumage. Upper parts, throat, and breast bluish 

 grey. Rump white. Primaries black. Under parts 



