3 2 THE ANIMAL LIFE OF SIBERIA 



and Asia from Lapland to the Sea of Okhotsk. Rare in Finland and farther south, 

 it is never driven far away from home by the cold of winter. It follows the 

 migrating lemmings as far south as central Scandinavia, and nests in hollow trees, 

 on the ground among shrubs, and probably also in rocky clefts. It is as strong 

 and courageous as the snowy owl, and lives on much the same kind of food. The 

 Lapp owl somewhat resembles the hawk-owl, but is more slender, although con- 

 siderably larger ; it may always be recognised by its large head and long body. In 

 length it is from 27 to 28 inches, the female being larger than the male. In 

 colour it is ashy brown streaked with w^hite above, and below whitish grey with 

 brown stripes. 



The eared owls are represented by the short-eared owl, which is found almost 

 everywhere, and the long-eared owl, which ranges across the continent and reaches 

 Japan. The eagle-owl, which also inhabits the Siberian area, ranges down to 

 central Asia, where it is replaced by Bubo turcomanus, distinguished by its paler 

 plumage. 

 Falcons and Of falcons and hawks, the first on our list is the little merlin, 



Hawks. which has been found as far north as Novaia Zemlya, and inhabits 

 Great Britain, central Europe, and western and central Asia, but does not 

 apparently reach as far east as Kamchatka, though known as a visitor to Korea, 

 I 1 1 ina, and northern India. Where trees are to be found, the merlin builds in 

 them, but on the tundra and large moors and heaths it nests on the ground, and in 

 mountainous country, on ledges and in rocky clefts. Sometimes the nest is a mere 

 scratching in the ground, in other cases it is roughly made of heather and other 

 dry plants. The young birds migrate in August and September with the old ones. 

 Those inhabiting Europe resort to the Mediterranean countries and North Africa. 

 During March, April, and May merlins return to their breeding-area. In habits 

 the merlin is in many respects very similar to the hobby. It is one of 

 the boldest of the falcons, and attacks not only smaller birds but many larger 

 than itself. Like the hobby, after flying several times round its sleeping-place in 

 the evening, it suddenly drops down like a stone. When on the wing, it may be 

 distinguished from the hobby by the shorter body and wings, and it has also a 

 somewhat paler colour. The tail is slaty blue tipped with white and barred with 

 black, the last bar being broader than the rest. The cere and feet are yellow 7 , and 

 the throat is white. The male, which is about 10 inches long, is slaty blue above 

 with black streaks, the lower parts being rufous white, with brown lancet- 

 Bhaped spots. The primaries are bluish with black shafts, and barred with white 

 "ii the inner webs. The grey gerfalcon, the peregrine, and the kestrel 

 are found wit din the area, the last ranging up to the Polar Circle, and even 

 farther north, but the hobby, although reaching Kamchatka, prefers the 

 southern parts of Siberia. 



The golden eagle is distributed not only over Europe, but also over Asia from 

 the Himalaya northwards, and is thus found in Siberia. The white-tailed sea- 

 eagle also inhabits Siberia, but is replaced on the coast of the Pacific by the larger 

 Steller's sea-eagle (ThalassaetuA peldgicus). This, the largest of all eagles, is 41 

 inches in lengj h. In colour it is principally black and brown, with a white wedge- 

 shaped tail and thighs, and white on the lower part of the back and wing-coverts. 



