Class II. MERLIN. 20i 



the preceding kind were ofcen trained for hawking : 

 and this Ipecies, fmall as it is, was inferior to none 

 in point of fpirit: it was ufed for taking partridg- 

 es, which it would kill by a fingle ftroke on the 

 neck. The Merlin flies low, and is often feen along 

 roads' fides, Ikimming from one fide of the hedges 

 to the other, in fearch of prey. 



It does not breed in England, but migrates here 

 in Ocioher, about the tmie that the Hobby difappears ; 

 for the Lark-catchers obferve that in September they 

 take no Merlins but abundance of Hobbies : but in 

 the following month. Merlins only. 



It was known to our Britijh anceftors by the 

 mmc of Llamyfden ', was ufed in hawking •, and its 

 neft was valued at twenty-four pence. They made 

 ufe of four other fpecies, but have left us only 

 their names ; the Hebog or Hawk, whofe neft was 

 eftimated at a pound •, the GwalcFs or Falcon's at 

 one hundred and twenty pence -, the Hwyedig's or 

 long winged, at twenty-four pence ^ and a fpecies call- 

 ed Cammin or crooked bill, at four pence. The 

 Penhebogyd or chief falconer, held the fourth place 

 at the court of the H^elch prince: but notwith- 

 ftanding the hofpitality of the tinies, this officer 

 was allowed only three draughts out of his horn, 

 leaft he ihould be fuddled and negled his birds *. 



* Leges Wullica, 253.25. 



Vol. I. P Large 



