MERLIN 299 



two, if not three, there, certainly two together. If, as 

 I infer, they breed there, the young birds must disperse 

 themselves over the country, for we never see more 

 than two or three. I was much pleased, on September 6, 

 to meet with one close to Cobham, for the above- 

 mentioned wood is in quite a different district and on 

 a different soil, quite isolated from other woods. This 

 Hobby came over my head as I was returning from 

 shooting. In the excitement of the moment I fired 

 at him, but fortunately, owing to the height he was 

 at, did not hurt him. On returning to the spot next 

 day I found him as often as I liked, for he is by no 

 means a timid Hawk, and spends most of his time 

 in the air looking for prey, flying with outspread wings 

 in graceful swoops. His Swift-like wings and short 

 tail distinguish him from other small Hawks. I saw 

 him hanging almost motionless in the face of the wnnd, 

 rather like a Kestrel, scarcely moving the wings. On 

 September 4, 1868, as usual, the Hobbies are to be seen 

 in their old quarters, and the same number — three. 



" I have not observed this bird in the immediate neigh- 

 bourhood this year, 1871 ; but at the beginning of this 

 month (September, 1871) three Hobbies, the invariable 

 number, were seen at their old haunt, Chattendeu 

 Woods, in the parish of Frindsbury." 



In 1902 and 1903 the Hobby was observed in the 

 Orlestone district. 



MEELIN. 



Falco cEsalon, Tunstall. OniitJi. Brit., p. 1 (1771). 

 Blue Hawk. 



The Merlin is only an autumn and winter visitor to 

 Kent, generally keeping to the more open woods, leaving 



