Accipitres 



129 



high in the air, and are then said to look almost like 

 Swifts. The shriU cry is seldom heard. 



The Merlin {F. oesalon), locally termed the Stone- 

 falcon, from its habit of perching on boulders, breeds 

 from the Shetlands to the Derbyshire moors, in Wales 

 and in Ireland ; abroad from the Arctic Circle to the 



Merlin's nest and eggs 



Pyrenees and throughout north Asia. The nest, a very 

 slight structure, if there be any, is usually on the 

 ground among heather, but not uncommonly a 

 deserted bird's habitation in a tree or on a ledge 

 of a cliff is made use of, the four or even half-a-dozen 

 eggs being rich brownish red, and rarely shewing the 

 ground colour. After the breeding season this species 



