MERLIN 
lands, in characteristic Hawk-like fashion, and this 
is the origin of its commonest local name. Another 
local name is the Blue Hawk (also a common name 
for the Sparrow Hawk) ; while it is also some- 
times called by the name of the Sparrow Hawk 
itself. Country names for birds are often ex- 
tremely confusing, as the same name may be given 
not only to different birds in different parts of the 
country, but even to several distinct species in the 
same locality ; for very few country-folk have an 
accurate knowledge of the different kinds of birds to 
be found in their own neighbourhoods, and are apt 
both to lump together several species of like ap- 
pearance and habits under a single name, and also 
to make two different species where there is really 
only one. Only the male Merlin really deserves the 
name of " blue ; its upper parts are medium 
slaty grey, with narrow black streaks, while the 
tail has a black band towards the end, and a white 
tip. The upper parts of the female are darker 
brownish-grey, with the same white-tipped tail ; 
and the under parts of both birds are creamy 
white, with darker spots or vertical streaks — not 
transverse bars as in the Sparrow Hawk. Imma- 
ture birds of both sexes are brown like the female, 
but a little redder in tint. The female is distinctly 
larger than the male. The eggs are generally laid 
in May in a hollow among the heather, with little 
