12 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
The nest seems to be usually placed amongst 
cliffs: it is a slight structure of heather, dead weeds 
and dry grass: it is also found on the ground 
amongst heather.* 
The food of the Merlin consists mostly of small 
birds: it has, however, been seen in chase of House 
Pigeons, and occasionally kills one, but its strength 
appears insufficient to carry off so heavy a prey. 
Snipes also seem special favourites: so fond does 
the Merlin appear to be of these that it has been 
known to accompany persons snipe-shooting, and 
chase the missed or wounded birds. Mr. Blake- 
Knox says that if the Snipe was shot and the Merlin 
could catch it before it reached the ground it in- 
variably did so, but if it reached the ground the 
hawk never touched it: he adds, ‘‘ When the hawk 
would leave the bog, so might I—the Snipe were all 
flushed.” t 
The adult male has the bill bluish lead colour; 
cere yellow;} irides brown; fore part of the fore- 
head white, streaked with black; head bluish, mixed 
with rusty and streaked with black, a small light 
* Zool. for 1864, p. 9317. 
+ Id. 1866, Second Series, p. 221. 
t Mr. Saxby says (Zool. 1865, p. 9519), adult males 
have the cere, tarsi and feet deep gamboge-yellow, tinged 
more or less with orange; but in all the young birds and 
adult females he has examined those parts have always 
been pale sulphur-yellow. 
