7* 



Merlin This little falcon is the smallest of our British birds of 

 prey. Though small in size it is powerful and daring, attacking 

 fearlessly and oft-times successfully birds considerably larger than 

 itself. It is a bird of the moorland, where it may be seen perched 

 upon some stone standing above the heather ; hence its other name 

 of " Stone Falcon." It is considered by the gamekeeper an enemy, 

 and no doubt the Merlin takes, like the bold pirate that he is, a 

 tribute from the humbler folk inhabiting his domain. The Merlin 

 makes its nest upon the ground amid the heather and there lavs 

 its four or five eggs, white in ground-colour, but this barely visible 

 through the suffusion of reddish -brown, with which the eggs are 

 thickly covered. The plumage of the Merlin is blue-black above, 

 the breast dull white with black markings, and the bird with his 

 hooked bill and proud carriage looks what he is, a bold and dashing 

 fellow. 



Ouzel, Ring- The Ring-ouzel is a summer migrant, arriving 

 early on pur southern shores, from which it quickly betakes itself to 

 higher lying ground, where it frequents the open moors and hillsides, 

 and may often be observed in the glens and by the sides of mountain 

 streams. The Ring-ouzel is about the size of a blackbird, which it 

 resembles in other respects, being sooty black in colour, but with a 

 broad band of white stretching across the breast, and ending on each 

 side of the neck. The female is in colour browner than the male, 

 with the neck ring less distinct. The song resembles that of the 

 blackbird, though rather harsher in tone. The Ring-ouzel is largely 

 insectivorous, save in the autumn, when it feeds chiefly on berries, 

 being particularly fond of those of the mountain ash. The nest, 

 which may well be taken for that of the blackbird, is usually 

 placed upon the ground ; a favourite situation being on the bank ot 

 a mountain stream, hidden by overhanging heather. The eggs are 

 four in number, occasionally five, and closely resemble those of 

 the blackbird, but often one of the clutch is in ground colour of a 

 much clearer blue with rich brown markings. 



Owl, Long- eared The Long-eared Owl is a resident in 

 Britain throughout the year, and is widely distributed over the entire 

 country with the exception of the Orkneys and Shetlands, where it 

 is but a visitor. In winter its numbers are considerably added to by 

 immigrants from more northern climes. In colour it is dark brown 

 above, mottled with buff, and with tiny spottings of darker brown ; 

 the head is dull orange, each feather centred with black, and 

 edged with tiny dusky spots ; the facial rings are dull white, black 

 round the eye ; the breast dull white with each feather streaked with 

 dark brown. The length of this owl is rather over 13 inches, and 

 its distinguishing feature is the two long ear tufts of feathers from 

 which it derives its name, and which renders it distinct from the 

 other members of the family. It is much more slender in body than 

 the Short-eared Owl. The Long-eared Owl conceals itself through 

 the day ; unlike its short-eared relative it is never to be seen abroad 

 save at night. Its food consists chiefly of mice and rats. This owl 

 breeds early in the year, laying its eggs in the old and deserted nest 

 of some other bird. These number four to six, sometimes seven, and 

 are pure white, rather glossy, and more oval in shape than those of 

 the other owls. This species has not the hoot of its congeners, but 

 is said to have a note of a barking sound, and also occasionally to 

 mew after the fashion of a kitten. 



Owl, Tawny The Tawny Owl is now the most numerous 

 representative of its family in Britain, where it is resident and widely 

 distributed. It is a lover of the woodland, from the dark recesses of 



