260 REMINISCENCES OF A SPOKTSMAN. 



the contrary, says its nidification is usually in trees or 

 on the ground, where it lays five or six eggs of a whitish 

 cast, except one, which has a green tinge. Notwith- 

 standing which discrepancy both writers are probably 

 correct. Quails, blackbirds, thrushes, snipes, and larks 

 are taken with this minikin hawk, and she has been 

 successfully flown at partridges ; we have heard, but 

 should doubt it, woodcocks noticed as being her quarry 

 occasionally. This hawk, when young, is reclaimed by 

 the same methods as are used towards the slight falcon. 

 Blome says " it is usual to fly a cast at a time, which 

 is very pleasant, for the birds are so terrified at the 

 sight of them that they choose rather to take shelter 

 under the horses' legs than to rely on their wings, 

 and a cast of merlins makes excellent sport with the 

 snipe in the winter, being much like the flight of the 

 heron and the ger-falcon. To order this aright, do 

 thus : — When your merlins are thoroughly manned 

 and made gentle, carry them into the field, and having 

 found a lark, or some small bird, make loose their hoods, 

 and go as near as you can into the wind to the bird, 

 and as soon as the bird riseth unhood them and cast 

 them off to flee, and when they have beaten down the 

 game, let them feed theron for their reward ; as first 

 you must flee them with the most advantage you can, 

 that they may not be over- wrought." 



The Kite. 



The kite, provincially the forked-tail gleed, or buttock, 

 notwithstanding it ranks low in the falconer's estimation, 

 is yet an object of admiration to the naturalist, and 



