348 On the Ornithology of Wilts {Falconide}. 
Zoological Gardens. This is the only instance which has come to 
my knowledge of the occurrence of this very rare Faleon in 
Wiltshire. 
“The Merlin,” (Fulco wsalon.) This beautiful little Faleon, not 
much bigger than a blackbird, is so bold, so active, and so strong, 
that it has been known to strike down a partridge at a blow, 
though twice its own size and weight. It was formerly much es- 
teemed for Falconry, and was trained to fly at woodcocks, snipes, 
and larks. In speaking of the Peregrine, I have shewn how that 
bird would accompany the sportsman to the field, and select a 
victim from the coveys when sprung, neither terrified by man, 
dog, or gun, as described by Mr. Knox and others: that same 
amusing writer gives a similar very interesting account of a Merlin 
which regularly attended him when he was out snipe shooting in 
Ireland, in order to get a share of the game. It seemed to have 
no fear of his gun, but would follow him at a little distance and 
watch the birds that he fired at; if they were killed by the shot 
the Merlin never meddled with them, but seemed to consider them 
the lawful share of the sportsman; if, however, any bird was 
wounded and partially disabled, it instantly pursued and caught it, 
and carried it off. At first there was but one, but subsequently a 
second—a female—joined it, and they regularly made their ap- 
pearance as long as the sportsman continued in the neighbourhood. 
Sometimes, at the very commencement of the day’s sport, the 
merlins might not be there, but the first report of the gun was 
generally sufficient to summon one or both of them to the scene of 
action, and a wounded snipe, however slightly touched by the shot, 
had no chance of escape from their united efforts. First, one 
would rise above it in a succession of circular gyrations, (for he 
was unable to ascend in such a direct line as the snipe,) then he 
would make a swoop, and if he missed, his companion, who in the 
meantime had been working upwards in a similar manner, would 
next try her luck, and in this manner they would pursue the 
quarry, until the persecuted bird, unable to ascend higher, or any 
longer avoid the fatal stroke, was at last clutched by one of the 
little faleons, when the other would hasten to “bind to it,” and all 
