MERLIN. 



FALCO ^ESALON. 



Family FALCONID^;. Genus FALCO. 

 Blue Hawk Stone Falcon. 



With us in the south the Merlin is only a winter 

 visitor, occasionally remaining to breed, but in the 

 north of England and in Scotland it appears to be a 

 resident bird, frequenting the wild and mountainous 

 districts in the summer and in the winter coming 

 down to the more cultivated districts. 



The Merlin has the same habits as the rest of the 

 Falcons and the same bold and fearless courage ; it 

 feeds largely upon small birds, but will not be afraid 

 to chase such birds as Plovers, Grouse or Partridges. 

 It is very swift on the wing, though not so fast as the 

 Hobby; still, it invariably hunts its prey down by 

 superior pace, never swooping down from a height on 

 it like the Kestrel or Peregrine. Like the Hobby it 



