FALCONIILE. 
‘>o 
provided with a good pocket telescope, have been able to 
identify but three more. All four of these occurred in 
autumn. When at rest its attitude is peculiar — very different 
from that of the Merlin ; and by this alone it may be identified 
at a considerable distance. The one shot was a male in very 
handsome plumage, although it was very thin and light, as if it 
had long been without a sufficient supply of food. The stomach 
contained the remains of a mouse, and fragments of large 
coleoptera. One which remained at Balta Sound for nearly a 
week, but which was far too vigilant to allow a very near 
approach, did not appear to be very active during the day, 
keeping mostly to the tops of walls in exposed situations, and 
occasionally resorting to the half-leafless trees in the garden. 
Towards sunset, however, it would skim rapidly over the 
meadows, frequently alighting for a few seconds, and sometimes, 
though rarely, abruptly checking its flight as if to seize some- 
thing in the air, — habits which caused strong suspicions that 
the bird might be the Eed-footed Falcon. A steady examin- 
ation by means of the telescope proved it beyond all doubt to 
be the Hobby, — a species with which I happen to be far less 
intimately acquainted. One was reported to have been killed 
in Bressay a few summers ago, but on inquiry it was clearly 
evident that the bird in question was a young Merlin. 
THE MEBtLIN. 
Falco cesaloii. 
MAALIN {occasioiutlly hobby). 
Of all the Shetland Ealconidce, this is by far the most abun- 
ant, being met with at all seasons, and occasionally in con- 
siderable numbers. Except during the breeding season, it 
frequents no particular locality, seeming to be equally distri- 
buted throughout the whole group of islands, its movements 
being chiefly influenced by the scarcity or abundance of food. 
It would be somewhat difficult to point to any unlikely 
