HAWKS AND HAWK-LIKE BIRDS. 163 



cry is uttered continuously with frantic iteration 

 whilst the bird circles in hovering flight above. 



KESTREL — 14 to I5J inches ; also sometimes a breeder on 



cliifs, but distinguishable by its frequently stationary, 



hovering flight. 

 HOBBY — 12 to 14 inches ; most like the Peregrine of all 



Hawks, but notably smaller, a nester in Avoods, and a 



preyer upon small birds and insects. A summer visitor. 

 MERLIN — 11 to 12J inches ; often met on moors behind cliffs, 



but much smaller. 

 SPARR0W-HAWK--13 to 154 inches ; a nester in and a 



prowler beside woods, preying on small birds ; wings 



short and blunt. 



HEN-HARRIER— Plate 75. Length, male, 20 

 inches. Upper parts clear bluish -gray, becoming 

 white at the root of the tail, the tail itself duller 

 gray; large outer wing -feathers black; face and 

 under parts white, the latter washed with blue-gray 

 on the throat and breast ; thighs plain white ; under 

 sides of the wings conspicuous by the contrast of the 

 black outer and the light inner wing-feathers ; bill 

 dark and hooked; feet yellow. FeTnale: 22 inches. 

 Brown above, becoming white at the root of the tail, 

 latter having five cross-bars ; region about the eye 

 whitish ; under parts warm buff, whiter towards the 

 tail, with heavy, detached, longitudinal, dark streaks ; 

 the long outer wing-feathers, as seen from below, dark 

 brown, and the short inner ones with dark cross- 

 bars. Both sexes have the Owl-like frill of feathers 

 at the neck. Resident. 



Eggs. — 4-6, usually plain bluish-white, but occa- 

 sionally with some yellowish or rusty-brown blotches ; 

 1-8 X 1-45 inch (plate 128). 



