BIRDS OF PREY. 25 
nine years, but all of them were in winter—viz., one in 
November, one in December, and another in March ; 
the latter might be accounted for as a particularly early 
arrival, as it was a fine adult male; the other two were 
in immature plumage, and may have been hatched late, 
but I believe it is quite exceptional to meet with them 
in mid-winter. 
I have no knowledge of its breeding with us, and 
have in vain sought for its nest; and yet the fact of 
meeting with birds in the livery of the young is pretty 
strong proof that it does so, though it has escaped my 
notice. At the same time, no country could be more 
favourable to its habits, or furnish a more abundant 
supply of food. It is not unlikely that the incessant 
attacks of the keepers upon everything in the shape of 
a hawk may have taught it instinctively to seek safer 
quarters. 
The little I have seen of the hobby has impressed me 
with the opinion that, though naturally wild and shy, 
yet when in pursuit of its prey it will be absolutely fear- 
less even of man’s presence, and will pertinaciously 
follow on regardless of any danger to itself. 
The beautiful little Merlin (f. esalon) is more fre- 
quent than the hobby, and though it cannot be called 
rare, it is sufficiently so to make it an object of interest 
when seen on the wing. Like the latter, too, most of 
the occasions on which I have met with it have been 
during the winter months, several having occurred in 
February. It haunts a wild heathy tract at Inkersal 
more commonly than elsewhere ; and here, with little 
to disturb it, it breeds, placing its nest on the ground, 
which is, I believe, its usual practice. I have often 
thought the latter circumstance must, even in districts 
