144 WOODLAND, MOOR, AND STREAM 



confined to certain localities than the other falcons. 

 Well-timbered districts, partially surrounded by 

 meadow lands, are his favourite hunting grounds, 

 but when seen he ought certainly to be made a note 

 of, for he is a most uncommon bird, even in suitable 

 localities. 



That dashing little fellow the merlin, or stone- 

 hawk a pigmy falcon in comparison with others of 

 his family frequents the moorlands, and prefers the 

 northern counties to the southern ones. If he is 

 small, yet his courage is high, for he will kill birds 

 you would not think him capable of mastering. I 

 have found the small falcons and the sparrow-hawk 

 show a decided preference for birds of the finch tribe. 

 The hobby and the merlin will kill the skylark, and, 

 when hunger pinches, any bird they can master ; but 

 from choice they prefer finches when they can get 

 them. 



The orange-legged hobby is very rare ; it can 

 only be classed as a very occasional visitant. 



Last on the list of falcons is the neat-looking 

 kestrel, or wind-fanner, which is as well known to the 

 country children as the cuckoo is. 'Look at he 

 fannin' away up there ; don't he winner just about/ 

 you will hear them say sometimes. I know him 

 thoroughly well, both in a wild and a domesticated 



