DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY 13 



of British Falconry the Merlin found a regular 

 place in the stud Avith the Peregrine and Goshawk, 

 when it was flown at Larks, Blackbirds and other 

 small fowl. It is said to attack Partridges and 

 Grouse — birds more than double its own weight — 

 but this, I think, is unusual. It is known on good 

 authority, however, that a trained Merlin will 

 follow and bring down a pigeon. 



These little hawks readily become tame, and take 

 kindly to captivity. Lord Lilford, however, who 

 had an unusually wide experience of wild birds 

 reclaimed from a state of nature, tells us that they 

 require great care and skilful management to keep 

 them in good flying condition. He also throws 

 some doubt upon the character for pluck and dash 

 with which they are generally accredited. 



J\ly own experience, for what it may be worth, 

 goes to support popular tradition. An adult Mer- 

 lin, recently caught, when it came into my posses- 

 sion, soon lost all fear of its captors, and its reckless 

 courage far exceeded that of any hawk I have 

 known. On one occasion, when at large in a room, 

 it pursued an escaped Greenfinch with the utmost 

 ferocity, brushing through hanging drapery and 

 chivying its victim from beneath the heavier furni- 

 ture, without the slightest regard for the interfer- 

 ence of the bvstanders. It was only by actually 

 seizing and holding it that its headlong pursuit 

 could be checked. 



In its mode of cjuest the Merlin differs materially 

 from the Kestrel, owing, of course, largely to the 

 different character of its prey ; for though the latter 

 may now and then take birds, this would appear 



