MERLIN. 75 



common food of species is small birds, and they have been 

 seen in chase of the smaller shore-birds, as the Sanderling 

 and Dunlin. 



The Merlin was formerly often, and is now occasion- 

 ally, trained ; and will take Snipes, Larks, Blackbirds 

 and Thrushes. Messrs. Salvin and Brodrick say: "The 

 strongest female Merlins may be trained to fly pigeons 

 admirably, and from their small size, and the way in which 

 they follow every turn and shift of the quarry, are better 

 adapted for this chase than the Peregrine; unlike it, they 

 do not stop when the pigeon takes cover in a hedge or tree, 

 but dash in and generally secure it." 



The Merlin was formerly considered to be only a winter- 

 visitor to this country, and in the southern parts of Eng- 

 land that is without doubt its character, though instances 

 are recorded of its also remaining to breed. Mr. Murray 

 Mathew informed Mr. More that it has been seen on Exemoor, 

 in June, and its nest is said to have been found more than once 

 in the New Forest. On Dr. Bree's authority it is stated to 

 breed in Essex, and Herefordshire and Shropshire are counties 

 in which it occasionally does so. In Wales, too, it has its 

 nest, but only regularly in the north. On the Derbyshire 

 moors it breeds annually, as also in every county of Great 

 Britain, from Yorkshire northward to the Shetlands. In 

 Ireland, it frequents chiefly the mountainous districts 

 throughout the island, descending in winter to the lower 

 parts of the country. 



This species is confined to the more northern portion of the 

 Old World, its place in America being taken by the kindred 

 Falco columbarius, which, among other differences, is said to 

 be recognizable by the fewer bars on its tail. The Norwich 

 Museum contains a specimen of the Merlin, caught at sea in 

 May, 1867, by Mr. Edward Whymper, on his voyage to 

 Greenland, in lat. 57 41' N., and long. 35 23' W., and 

 this appears to be the most western limit ever reached by 

 the species. In Iceland it is very common in summer, 

 arriving at the end of March and leaving in October ; in the 

 Faroes it remains all the year. It breeds in suitable localities 



