22 THE MERLIN. 



keeper of Quixwood, at a Partridge which it had killed, in 

 October 1 8 7 8 ; l and Mr. Hardy records that an example 

 occurred at Knock Hill, four miles from Duns, in the spring 

 of 1879. 2 Mr. W. Smith, gamekeeper, Duns Castle, informs 

 me that about 1880 he shot a Merlin near Greenlaw, and 

 another at Murray la wrigg. In 1882 a specimen was killed 

 at the " Cockit Hat " plantation on Lamberton Moor, where 

 this bird is said to be frequently seen. 3 Mr. Hogg has 

 informed me that it is very destructive to the Partridges at 

 Quixwood after the pairing time in spring. 



The Merlin was in great repute with falconers in former 

 times on account of its courage and the rapidity of its 

 flight, as well as its capability of being readily trained. 

 Godscroft, in his MS. History of the Homes of Wedderburn, 

 written in 1611, mentions that Sir George Home, who lived 

 in the time of James vi. of Scotland, had Hawks called Mer- 

 lins, with which he caught both Partridges and Muir-fowl. 4 



It was the favourite Hawk of ladies in the palmy days 

 of falconry, and was carried on the wrist. It is trained at 

 the present day for the purpose of being flown at Larks, 

 when it shows excellent sport. 



A local writer on falconry says : " I once witnessed a 

 most interesting flight between two Merlins in a wild state 

 and a Snipe. As I was crossing Lamberton Moor, accom- 

 panied by a gentleman of Berwick, we happened to see two 

 of these birds mounting almost perpendicularly in the air 

 within a few paces of us. Our first impression was that 

 they were amusing themselves by endeavouring to soar 

 above each other, but on watching their movements for a 

 short time we soon discovered the object of their pursuit 



1 Mr. Hogg of Quixwood showed me this specimen on the 18th of October 1882. 



2 Hist. Ber. Nat. Club, vol viii. p. 532. 



3 Information from Mr. James Purves, gamekeeper, Mordington House. 



4 See article on " Falconry in Berwickshire," pp. 17, 18, supra. 



