io6 Craigmillar and its Environs. 



vinced, after having carefully examined the place, 

 that the hawks were not in pursuit of prey at all. 

 This conclusion was confirmed by the circumstance 

 that neither in this case, nor, as indicated, in that of 

 the former, was there the slightest trace of any small 

 bird having struck the window. How this strange 

 incident is to be accounted for is a matter which will 

 interest most naturalists. We naturally felt puzzled, 

 but in lookmg straight towards the window from a dis- 

 tance, we discovered what to our mind was the true 

 solution of the mystery. We observed that the trees 

 in Mount Vernon wood were clearly and distinctly 

 reflected in the plate-glass — so much so, that it 

 appeared to those looking m to be like an avenue 

 of trees, along which it is known hawks are often 

 seen to skim. There can be no doubt that had the 

 blinds of the window been down, no such remarkable 

 incident would have occurred. This theory is cor- 

 roborated by additional observations subsequently 

 referred to. 



The Merlin we have frequently seen here, but 

 have never known it to breed. 



