146 Northern Observations of Inland Birds 



for their food. If a wild hawk were never hungry it is 

 probable that, except during mating season, it would 

 seldom desert its favourite perch. Give them food and 

 shelter enough and their captivity troubles them little ; 

 while the majority of them are far better off in captivity 

 than in a wild state. It is only when the mating instinct 

 is at its height that at times they seem to rebel against 

 their bondage. 



Among birds and beasts, however, there are exceptional 

 individuals, just as there are among human beings, and 

 there are always some which never settle down to captive 

 life, beating themselves against the bars and trying 

 unceasingly to escape. Of two wolves, cubs of the same 

 litter, one may settle happily to cage life, and become 

 docile and affectionate, while the other gives only distrust 

 and asks no more. One is idle and content, the other 

 for ever pacing and glowering with sullen distrust towards 

 its human captors. I have noticed the same thing about 

 fox cubs taken from the same cairn and reared in captivity, 

 and indeed, among birds of the same brood. 



A striking example of the merlin's unexpected powers 

 of flight came before my observation some years ago. 

 The keeper on a Yorkshire moor, where they were then 

 comparatively common, told me that in a certain marsh 

 he repeatedly saw merlins strike down snipe, and one 

 day in early spring I was so fortunate as actually to see 

 the chase. It was, without exception, the most marvellous 

 exhibition in the way of " stunt " flying that I have ever 

 beheld in bird Ufe. 



I first noticed a merlin flying low over the swamp 

 w^here numbers of snipe had their nests, and almost 

 immediately a snipe appeared and began to buffet the 

 little falcon. That snipe very soon learnt, however, 

 that he had made the mistake of his life. No plebeian 

 kestrel this, no parasitic cuckoo, and with a scream the 



