194 BIRD GALLERY. 



birds selected a depression in the soil where two sheep-walks intersected 

 one another at right angles. The eggs, from four to six in number, 

 are bluish-white, sometimes spotted with rusty brown. 



The adult birds differ greatly in colour, the male being grey while the 

 female is brown, with various markings. 



Sutherlandshire, May. 



Presented by Colonel L. H. Irhy ^ Captain, S. G. Reid. 



No. 153. SPARROW-HAWK. (Accipiter nisus.) 



This common and rapacious species is generally distributed through- 

 out the British Islands, wherever there are woodlands suited to its 

 habits. It preys chiefly on birds, and, during the breeding-season, 

 often does great execution among the young of game-birds and poultry. 

 It usually constructs a nest of sticks, lined with twigs, and places it in 

 a tree at a considerable height from the ground : but the old nest of a 

 Crow, Wood-Pigeon, or other bird is sometimes renovated and made 

 use of for several successive years. The eggs vary from four to six in 

 number, and are pale bluish-white, blotched with reddish-brown. 



The male is always much smaller than the female, 



1. — Norfolk, June. 

 Presented by Lord Walsingham. 



3. — Dorset, July. 

 Presented by F. Beckford, Esq. 



No. 154. MERLIN. (Falco Eesaloii.) 



The Merlin is the smallest of our British Falcons, and breeds 

 throughout the moorlands and mountainous districts of the British 

 Islands, with the exception of some of the southern counties of England. 

 It preys chiefly on the smaller Wading-birds, Thrushes, Larks, Pipits, 

 etc., and being a bird of high courage and extremely rapid flight is 

 a favourite with falconers and frequently trained to take Larks. The 

 iiest is generally a mere hollow scratched in the ground at tlie foot of 

 some boulder or rock, but occasionally the old nest of a Crow or Herou 

 is occupied. The eggs, which are laid in May, are reddish brown and 

 from four to six in number. 



Isle of Skye, June. 

 Presented by the Rev. H. A, Macpherson. 



