79 
2d. Falco suhhuteoj the Hobby Falcon, is a much 
smaller bird than the former, about 12 inches long, 
and in breadth of \Wngs about 2 feet. Its general 
colour is greyish black, not unlike the peregrine. 
It preys upon small birds and insects, and builds in 
trees. Eggs, three to four, reddish brown, with 
small dark blotches. The hobby is a summer 
visitant, not common in England, and said never to 
have been found in Scotland, but I stuffed a specimen 
for the present Earl of Dalhousie, on 8th July, 1847, 
which was shot near Dunkeld, and is now I believe 
in Brechin Castle. 
3d. Falco Tinnunculus, the Kestrel Hawk, is 
larger than the hobby, being 14 inches in length, by 
2 feet 3 inches in breadth. The plumage of the male 
bird, w^hich differs from the female, is of a bright 
brown, spotted with black on the back and wing 
coverts, and underneath of a pale brown, streaked 
and spotted wdth black. The back of the female is 
of a rusty brown, thickly barred with black, the 
breast, belly, and thighs of a lighter brown, with 
dusky downward streaks. The kestrel feeds on mice 
and small birds, and also on beetles ; builds chiefly 
on trees, but occasionally in rocks and ruins ; eggs 
reddish brown, blotched with darker brown. This 
bird breeds on Kinnoull and Moncreiffe hills, and 
throughout the county, but like all other birds of 
prey has become scarce. 
4th Falco ^salon, the Merlin Falcon, is smaller 
than the kestrel, indeed the smallest of our hawks, 
being not much larger than a blackbird. The back 
and wings of the merlin are blue, mixed with black, 
and breast and belly yellowish white. The nest is 
built on the ground, among heath, very rudely con- 
stsructed. Eggs, 3 to 5, reddish brown, with darker 
spots. The bird flies low, and is very active in catch¬ 
ing its prey, which consists of small birds. I have 
seen it in search of food, skimming in beautiful un¬ 
dulating lines across St. Leonard Bank gardens, rising 
and falling again as it encountered each successive 
wall. The merlin appears to breed in the northern 
parts of the county, and is chiefly seen in this dis¬ 
trict about the month of October. 
