British Birds. 
i 2 4 
The eggs are from three to five in number, closely mottled and sprinkled with rufous 
all over, so that they much resemble some eggs of the Kestrel and Merlin. They 
measure about an inch-and-a-half in len gth. 
The Merlin is a smaller and more thick-set little Falcon than 
I HE MERLIN. t j ie f-j 0 bby , from which it is distinguished by its blue-grey colour 
(Falco asalon.) 
and by the colour of the under surface, which is white with a 
rufous tinge, and streaked with black, these black stripes extending on to the thighs 
which are like the breast. The female is browner than the male, and is whitish 
underneath, streaked with dark brown ; occasionally blue females are met with, which 
resemble the male in colour, so that, when fully mature, the sexes appear to be alike 
in plumage, as is the case with the Hobby. 
The principal food of the little Merlin seems to be small birds such as Sandpipers, 
Larks, Wagtails, Pipits, etc., but it also feeds on insects, especially large moths. It 
frequents the open moors 
in Wales and the North 
of England, and breeds 
thoughout Scotland and 
the greater part of Ireland. 
It extends throughout 
Northern Europe and 
Siberia, and winters in 
China, Northern India and 
Northern Africa. 
The nest is placed on 
the ground or on the ledge 
of a rock, and is merely a 
hole in the ground, lined 
with a little grass or a few 
bits of heather. The eggs are four or five in number, and are of a deep red 
colour, resembling those of the Hobby or Kestrel, and measuring about an inch- 
and-a-half in length. 
Three species of Gyr-Falcon have occurred in Great Britain, 
and of these the White or Greenland Gyr-Falcon (see p. 123) 
is always easily recognised by its yellowish bill and by having 
only spots or streaks, not bars, on the flanks. By these 
features there need never be any difficulty in identifying a 
Greenland Falcon at any age ; and throughout all its plumages 
it keeps up a white appearance, which is only varied with a few black spots or streaks. 
This beautiful Falcon is an occasional visitor to Great Britain, and has been 
noticed more often in Ireland and Scotland than in England. It is generally seen 
in autumn and winter, and most of the individuals which visit us are young birds. 
The Merlin. 
THE 
GREENLAND 
GYR-FALCON. 
(Hicrofalco 
candicans.) 
