85 



MERLIN. 



Falco asalon, PENNANT, MONTAGU. BEWICK. FLEMING. 



Falco To cut with a bill or hook. JEsalon A species of Hawk, 



(Aristotle,) supposed to be the Merlin, or the Sparrow-Hawk. 



THOUGH an Eagle, by comparison with some of the East 

 Indian species of Hawks, the Merlin is the smallest that 

 occurs in this country. In spirit it is 'nulli secundus,' inferior 

 to none, and was accordingly used in former times in falconry 

 for the pursuit of birds even much larger than itself, which 

 it would frequently kill by a single blow on the head, neck, 

 or breast. The author of the 'Book of Falconrie' says that 

 they were 'passing good Hawks, and very skilful.' Unlike 

 the Sparrow-Hawk and the Kestrel, if pursued by swallows 

 and other small birds, it has been known, instead of flying 

 from them, to become in its turn the aggressor, and at once 

 disperse them. Like the Hobby, it has been captured by its 

 dashing through a pane in the window of a cottage, in 

 pursuit of a yellow-hammer. 



This species appears to claim citizenship in all the four 

 quarters of the globe. In Europe it is known in Denmark, 

 Norway, Sweden, Germany, and France; in North America, 

 in Asia Minor, and in Africa as far south as the Cape of 

 Good Hope. It is more frequently met with in the northern, 

 than in the southern parts of England, though in neither 

 can it be said to be common. The former are its breeding 

 districts. In Yorkshire, it has very frequently occurred, 

 especially in the West-Riding: occasionally in Derbyshire. 



In Sussex, it has been repeatedly noticed in the wilder and 

 less cultivated districts. In Berkshire, I once myself shot 

 one, now many years ago. It was a beautiful female, flying 

 up a brook down by which I was walking an unfortunate 

 'rencontre' for it and fell, apparently quite dead, as indeed it 

 proved to have been; but so remarkable was the similarity 



