CXXVIIl. 



FAI-CO KSALON. (Tkmm. 



Mehlin. 



The eggs of the Mcrliii, as far as any notice occuis of 

 their detection in this country, haA e been found deposited 

 upon the heath of the extensive moors of the North. 

 Teraminck however says, that the Merlin breeds in trees, and 

 this I think is most hkely the case, in those districts which 

 aboimd in wood. The eggs too, are like those of the tree, or 

 rock -building Hawks. Whilst in Norway, we had the eggs of 

 a Hawk brought to us, which had been taken from a tree, and 

 which, I have not the least doubt, were those of the Merlin, 

 corresponding exactly with Fig. 1 of the Plate, both in size 

 and colour, being less than those of the Kestrel, to which 

 they bear the nearest resemblance. We also noticed a pair 

 of these birds, in a thick part of the forest, which, during 

 our stay in their neighboiu:hood, evinced all that solicitude, 

 which birds do on your approach to their nests. 



The eggs are fom* or five in number, and are usually very 

 similar to Fig. 1 of the Plate, but sometimes less suffused 

 with colour throughout. Fig. 2 is a scarce and very beautiful 

 variety, for which I am indebted to the collection of Mr. John 

 Hancock, of Newcastle. Fig. 3 is also rarely to be met with. 



The variety mentioned by Mr. Selby, " bluish white 

 marked with brown spots, principally at the larger end," I 

 have never seen. 



