WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS 



thought on blackbird or fieldfare, sometimes even on the 

 partridges, and striking his game on the back of the head, 

 kills it at a single blow. The merlin is a very bold bird, and 

 seems afraid of nothing. I one day winged one as he was 

 passing over my head at a great height. The little fellow, 

 small as he was, flung himself on his back when I went to 

 pick him up, and gave battle most furiously, darting out 

 his talons (which are as sharp and hard as needles) at 

 everything that approached him. We took him home, how- 

 ever, and I put him into the walled garden, where he lived 

 for more than a year. He very soon became quite tame, 

 and came on being called to receive his food, which con- 

 sisted of birds, mice, (2fc. So fearless was he, that he flew 

 instantly at the largest kind of seagull or crow that we 

 gave him. When hungry, and no other food was at hand, 

 he would attend the gardener when digging, and swallow 

 the large earthworms as they were turned up. To my great 

 regret, we found the little bird lying dead under the tree 

 in which he usually roosted; and though I examined him 

 carefully, I could not find out the cause of his death. 



Although all these small hawks which frequent this 

 country destroy a certain quantity of game, their principal 

 food consists of thrushes, blackbirds, and other small birds. 

 In the winter, when the greenfinches collect in large flocks 

 on the stubble fields, I have frequently seen the merlin or 

 sparrowhawk suddenly glide round the angle of some 

 hedgerow or plantation, and taking up a bird from the 

 middle of the flock, carry it off almost before his presence 

 is observed by the rest of the greenfinches. 



Sometimes two merlins hunt together, and, as it were, 



150 



