98 



FAMILIAR WILT) BIRDS. 



most undeviating way, until the fugitive fairly succumbs 

 from terror and exhaustion. 



The Merlin is a partially niigratory;Jjird, Ihong-h it is 

 fairly distributed througliout most_portions of the globe. 

 In Great Britain it breeds in the north of England and 

 Scotland, and is of course more commonly met with in 

 those localities than in the south ; though in the unculti- 

 vated parts of Sussex it is frequently seen. In the latter 

 place specimens are frequently seen during migration, in 

 the spring and autumn. It seems to be in a large 

 degree indifferent to climate, and is said to be found 

 sometimes as far north as the arctic circle. Tliis 

 bird feeds principally upon partridges, plovers, pigeons, 

 starlings, snipes, sandpipers, blackbirds, thrushes, and any 

 of the smaljer birds ; cockchafers, beetles, and other insects 

 are also said to be sometimes eaten by it. The nest is 

 usually placed on the ground on some Jheath or open 

 moor, or in a clump of heathei', and sometimes in the 

 sides of a ravine. No great caj'e is bestowed on the con- 

 struction of its nest, a few ^icks, with a litUe heather, 

 grass, or moss, being generally deemed sufficient. Some- 

 times, however, the ISIerUn is sikl to select a tree for nest- 

 ing purposes, and then the nest is jnade with sticks and 

 lined with wool and moss. 



Three, fouj;^ and occasionally five eggs are laid, of a 

 bluish-white colour, blotched, particularly at the thicker 

 ends, with deep reddish-brown or greenish-brown marks ; 

 but many varieties in the appearance of the eggs are met 

 with. 



The parent birds are very devoted to their young, and 

 unless disturbed the female sits very closely, the male 

 watching from some neighbouring elevation^ and uttering 



