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By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 349 
three descend together into the bog. After a performance of this 
sort an hour would occasionally elapse before the return of either 
of the merlins, sometimes more, sometimes less, but they never 
seemed willing to give up the sport until at least three snipes had 
fallen to their own share. The Merlin is often called the Stone 
Falcon, from its habit of perching on a large stone in the 
open country, which it frequents: for the same reason it is 
called in France Le Rochier, and Faucon de Roche, and in 
Germany Stein Falke. Bewick supposed it did not breed here, 
but Selby, Yarrell, and others prove that it does so, at any rate 
in the northern and midland counties. With us it is a winter 
visitant, arriving in October, and leaving us in the spring. I 
have myself seen it at Yatesbury, where it frequented a splendid 
old yew tree in the churchyard, and I have notices of its occurrence 
in the neighbourhood of Salisbury, 1837; Chippenham, 1840; 
Devizes and Warminster 1850; while Mr. Stratton tells me it is 
a constant visitor on the downs at Gore Cross; and that he caught 
no less than three specimens from one stump on his farm: he tells 
me also, that he has been astonished at its amazing boldness and 
dexterity in pursuit of starlings, chasing them, singling one out, 
and as certainly bearing it off in triumph. 
“The Kestrel,” (Fulco tinnunculus.) The most common, the 
most harmless, and the most persecuted of all the Falconide is the 
elegant Kestrel : it abounds in vast numbers throughout the county, 
and one can scarcely cross the downs in any direction without 
seeing it hovering in the air, with wings rapidly quivering and tail 
outstretched, and with head invariably turned to the wind: from 
this habit it has derived the two provincial names of ‘ Windhover’ 
and ‘Stonegall,’ or ‘Standgale.’ It may easily be distinguished 
from the other members of the family by the prevailing rufous 
fawn colour, which is common to the plumage of both sexes. It 
‘preys almost exclusively on mice, of which it destroys an incredible 
quantity, dropping upon them suddenly from above; but occasion- 
ally varies this diet with coleopterous insects, reptiles, and small 
birds ; but I think it has very rarely been known to molest a young 
partridge or pheasant, or commit the smallest trespass on game: 
