MERLIN FALCON. 323 



Traprain Law and the craggy acclivities of the Garleton Hills. 

 Like the Sparrow Hawk, it often watches its prey, previous 

 to making the fatal swoop. One fine day in August 1833, as 

 a companion and I were rambling about the environs of Had- 

 dington, he shot at some small birds in a hedge, when to our 

 surprise and delight a Rock Hawk tumbled out of it. Being 

 apparently but slightly wounded, he was caged with a Kestrel, 

 but refused all sustenance, and soon died. I have sometimes 

 seen a Merlin glide into one of the tallest trees around our 

 dwelling, survey the bushes in the garden, dart on his prey, 

 and carry it off. I suspect that the Merlins migrate from this 

 neighbourhood in winter, but they are so rare that it is difficult 

 to be assured of this." 



The Merlin was formerly trained for the chase, and seems 

 to have been a special favourite with the ladies ; but it was 

 not held in much estimation by the men, as it is hardly quali- 

 fied to kill partridges. It is said to be generally dispersed over 

 the European continent, but has not hitherto been found in 

 America, the individuals alleged to have been met with there 

 having turned out to be Pigeon Hawks. 



Young. — The young, when fledged, resemble the adult fe- 

 male, but have the upper parts spotted with red. A male in 

 my collection, and which I obtained when newly killed, had 

 the bare parts as in the adult, but the cere and supraocular 

 ridge of a duller tint. The general colour of the upper parts 

 is dark brown, but already tinged with grey, the feathers edged 

 and barred with pale brownish-red, those on the back having 

 each, one, two, four, or six concealed spots of that colour. The 

 alula, primary coverts, and primary quills are blackish-brown, 

 spotted on both webs with light red, the secondaries lighter ; 

 all the quills terminally margined with reddish-white. The 

 tail is blackish-brown, barred, the middle feathers with five, 

 the lateral with six bands of light red, and all of them tipped 

 with reddish-white over the eyes and on the hind-neck, the 

 bands are light reddish, spotted with dusky. The throat is yel- 

 lowish-white ; the cheeks yellowish-red, streaked with brown, 

 the eye margined anteriorly with black. The lower parts are 



