THE MERLIN. 33 



will ascend beyond the range of ordinary vision in its endeavours 

 to surmount the' flight of a snipe, or come down like a falling star 

 on a hurrying plover striving to reach some friendly marsh. At 

 other times the chase is persevered in with a courage and deter- 

 mination quite extraordinary in a bird so small, its feats reminding 

 one more of the theftuous acts of a sparrow-hawk than the stoop 

 of the nobler falcon. With the rapidity of an arrow, it will fly 

 along some enclosure, by the hedgerows, seize an object, and glide 

 out of sight, leaving the spectator to marvel at the transaction as 

 at a deed of magic. 



On the east of Scotland, where I studied the habits of raptorial 

 birds for many years, I remember some years ago seeing this Falcon 

 capturing snipes very cleverly at the sea shore. At a particular 

 part of the coast near Dunbar, where a rivulet enters the sea, the 

 snipes fed in great numbers at low tide, the ground, which was 

 covered with small brown pebbles, being well adapted for the conceal- 

 ment of birds. With the most punctual regularity, a pair of Merlins 

 used to come as I made my appearance at this place, and hover 

 about till I had raised a brace, which were immediately pounced 

 upon. But after a time the snipes became so terror-stricken that 

 a hundred shots would not frighten them; nor could a single bird 

 be raised, though I saw them occasionally skulking under the 

 stones. I found them more than once, indeed, paralyzed with fear, 

 and so heedless of anything save the hawks, that I was able to pick 

 up one or two and transfer them to my bag while my two friends 

 were flying overhead disappointed of their usual supply, and 

 doubtless in wonder at this sporting novelty. Ultimately, how- 

 ever for the snipes persisted in frequenting the place, though an 

 unusual one these birds acquired so much cunning that they ran 

 to conceal themselves under the slimy stones below tide mark, 

 thrusting their bodies, crab-like, into the crevices as soon as the 

 Merlins and I came in sight ! At such times their hurry was ex- 

 tremely diverting; and as the facts I narrate extended over a 

 length of time, I could not help being struck with the behaviour 

 of the snipes during the protracted disturbance they were sub- 

 jected to. 



The Merlin makes its nest, as I have observed in various parts 

 of Scotland, in wild tracks of moorland amongst heather, the spot 

 selected being generally near a ravine, or moderate precipice of 

 rock, on the summit and walls of which tufts of heather are 



C 



