BIRDS 103 



Holby (Falco subbuteo). "A peregrine in miniature," the male being 12 

 inches long, slate-grey above, white throat and cheeks, buffish white under 

 parts with black stripes, rust-red shank feathers and tail coverts. Is found 

 in the South of England from Devon to Norfolk, but scarce elsewhere. It is 

 a summer visitor, arriving in May, nesting in an old nest of crow or magpie. 

 The eggs, three or four, are lighter and yellower than the other falcons', mottled 

 with light yellow or pale brown-red. Food consists of dragon-flies, butterflies, 

 and beetles, with an occasional swift, swallow, or martin ; in winter (when it 

 is occasionally seen), of larks and other birds. The Hobby is a " forest bird," 

 hunting on the outskirts of woods ; very swift of wing. 



Knot. This bird does not breed in the British Isles, but is a winter visitor, 

 feeding on molluscs, especially small mussels. It derives its name from its 

 hoarse, grunting call, " Knot " or " Knut " ; but it has also other notes 

 " a curious warbling " when in flocks, and a " Tullawee-tullawee-whee-whee " 

 when courting. It is one of the family of Sandpipers, long-legged and long- 

 billed. In its breeding plumage it is recognized by its red-brown under parts, 

 head, and neck. The back is black, with light buff margins to the feathers. 

 In winter garb it becomes an ash-grey, with darker shades above and lighter 

 below. 



Lapwing. See PLOVER, GREEN. 



Merlin. This bird is the smallest of the British falcons ; but it is only 

 the cock bird that comes within measurable distance of this classification by 

 size, being 10-11 inches ; the female is larger. Its small size, therefore, 

 distinguishes it from any other British falcon. The upper parts are slate- 

 blue ; the under parts white, tinged with a rufous shade, and barred with 

 black. The legs are yellow, the beak hooked. The female has brown upper 

 parts, and underneath whitish, with dark-brown stripes. 



The Merlin is resident in Great Britain, and is also an autumn immigrant. 

 It breeds in Wales, North of England, Scotland, and Ireland (possibly Exmoor), 

 on the hills and moors. In winter it is found on the coast. 



Its nest is a hollow scratched out among heather on a hillside, with a few 

 scanty dried stalks for lining. It also breeds in old nests of raven and carrion 

 crow, and on cliff edges. The eggs, four to six, are mottled with red-brown 

 or chocolate so thickly as to hide the ground colour. They are usually to be 

 found in May. The cry is a " Kek-kek-kek." The food consists of larks, 

 linnets, and other small birds, also large moths, especially the "eggars." 



Nightjar (GOATSUCKER, NIGHT-HAWK, FERN-OWL, etc.). No one who has 

 once heard the peculiar jarring cry of this bird at night can fail afterwards 

 to identify it. It is a long drawn-out " Churr " ; but in flight there is a call- 

 note syllabled as " Co-ik," and an alarm note, " Quik-quik." Its character- 

 istic " Churr " has been compared to the tearing of calico, or the rattling of 

 a mowing machine. 



The bird has several striking peculiarities, and is easily identified by its 

 huge mouth, guarded with bristles (a portcullis from which no insect can 



