20 THE BIRDS OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 



myself seen, I am acquainted with many occurrences 

 of this species in our county, I think that the 

 Merlin preys exclusively on small birds, and the 

 Meadow-Pipit seems to be a very favourite quarry. 

 I have seen many very pretty flights in our meadows 

 at this bird and also at the Grey Wagtail ; the Hawk 

 comes flying low and fast along a fence side, or often 

 along the windings of our rivers and brooks, till a 

 small bird springs up before him, when an interesting 

 chase ensues, which, in the case of the two species 

 just mentioned, does not by any means always result 

 in a capture, for I have several times seen the Merlin, 

 apparently disgusted and wearied by continual un- 

 successful stoops, fly off to a post or rail, whilst the 

 Pipit or Wagtail went jerking away, with notes ot 

 self-congratulation on its escape. In Great Britain 

 the Merlin generally nests on the ground, often on 

 the steep bank of a burn in the moorlands, and occa- 

 sionally on a tussock on the open moor. The eggs, 

 according to Yarrell, are from four to six, but I have 

 not met with an instance of more than the former 

 number; they have the same style of coloration as 

 those of the Hobby and Kestrel, but the tints are 

 generally darker, and less of the ground-colour is 

 visible than in those species ; the eggs are also 

 smaller and not so rounded as in those of the birds 

 just named. Though the Merlin, as I have just 

 stated, generally nests upon the ground, this is not 

 always the case, and the following instance to the 

 contrary, kindly communicated to me by F. Hooper, 

 Esq., of Huntingdon, though not relating to our own 

 county, occurred in its close neighbourhood, and is of 

 such ornithological interest, that I make no apology 

 for inserting it in these notes on Northamptonshire 



