XX 



MERLINS 



MERLINS are pigmy falcons. Like falcons, 

 they are reclaimed for hawking purposes, 

 but are regarded as mere toys by those 

 who indulge in " the sport of kings." 

 In the days when falconry was a fashionable pastime 

 in England nearly every lady of quality possessed a 

 merlin, which was often as much of a companion as 

 a dog is nowadays. The exquisite little bird of prey 

 would accompany its mistress on her rides or her 

 walks, flying overhead and coming to the glove when 

 called. This species, being the only kind of merlin 

 found in England, is popularly called the merlin 

 (JEsalon regulus), even as Cuculus canorus is always 

 known as the cuckoo, as though it were the only cuckoo 

 in the world. 



The merlin when trained for falconry is usually 

 flown at the skylark. There are few prettier sights 

 than that presented by a contest between a merlin 

 and a skylark. Both know that the merlin can do 

 nothing until it gets above its quarry ; hence the 

 contest at first resolves itself into one for supremacy 

 of position. The adversaries often fly upwards in 

 spirals until they almost disappear from view. When 



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