THE BIRDS OF CUMBERLAND. 79 



October and November, the Peregrine frequently 

 visits the Solway salt marshes. 



A wonderfully diminutive male Peregrine, shot 

 in Cumberland, is preserved at Edenhall. 



F. Suhhuteo. Hobby. 



The Hobby is a casual visitant, of extremely 

 infrequent occurrence. 



A Hobby was shot in Borrowdale in 1854; a 

 fine old male was shot at Castle Riofo^ in 1864, and 

 is preserved by Mr. Sawer ; another was shot near 

 Edenhall, where it is preserved. Messrs. Mann 

 have obtained examples near AUonby on two 

 occasions. 



In the autumn of 1884, a pair of Hobbies, 

 evidently on passage, were seen near Cotehill by 

 Mr. Little, on November 25th, thus confirminof 

 Dr. Heysham's remark that he had seen the Hobby 

 in Cumberland in November. 



F. jEsalon. Merlin. 



The Merlin is a somewhat scarce resident, only 

 nesting irregularly in the lake district, and on one 

 or two of the Solway mosses, but breeding generally 

 upon the Bewcastle and Pennine hills, though always 

 a local bird. Fortunately, the nest is often so well 

 concealed in tall heather as to escape detection. It 

 is situated in most instances in the neighbourhood 

 of a " beck." Fresh eggs may be found from the 

 beginning of May until the end of the month. The 

 young, which are covered with grey down, show 



