THE MEIiJ.lX. 



21 



vvitk Merlin?, tliree of these birds were assigned to the 

 ^Itigpie, two to the Lark, and in the clias6 of the Quail 

 and Land-rail, the Sparrow-hawk was associated with it. 

 The Merlin is more frequent in the northern than in the 

 southern part of Great Britain, and is seen more frequently 



THK MKUU.N'. 



in winter than in summer, but is nowhere common. In 

 i!^orfolk, many are caught at the autumnal equinox in the 

 fowlers' nets. It occasionally, perhaps generally, breeds in 

 Northumberland, Cumberland, and jN'orth Wales, placing 

 its nest upon the ground amongst the heather, and laying 

 four or five eggs. 



