19 LLOYI^S NATURAL HISTORY. 



ceedings 01" trained Peregrines on the wing, and more than 

 once noticed one hovering over hooded Hawks on their 

 "cadge." The Merlin seldom flies at any great height, ex- 

 cept, of course, when in pursuit of any soaring quarry, or 

 bound on a lengthy journey. In our district of Northampton- 

 shire, where this species is by no means rare on passage, we 

 generally notice it flying low along the course of our river or 

 tributary brooks, or along the fence-sides, in search or in 

 pursuit of small birds. An old Wagtail or Pipit cuts out a 

 Merlin's work for her ; and I have often witnessed beautiful 

 and prolonged flights at these birds, which, generally, in the 

 winter season, terminated in favour of the intended victim." 

 Lord Lilford also disbelieves in the damage which is supposed 

 to he wrought by this little Falcon among young Game Birds, 

 as he points out very truly that the latter are jealously pro- 

 tected by their parents. 



A curious habit of the Merlin as regards the tenacity with 

 which it adheres to its nesting-place is related by Mr. Seebohm. 

 He says that he has known a patch of heather, only some 

 couple of yards square, which had a Merlin's nest for many 

 years, though no other breeding-place could be found within a 

 distance of eight or ten miles ; and, although the birds were 

 persistently trapped or shot by the gamekeepers, year after 

 year, a pair of Merlins always tried to nest in the identical 

 spot the next year, only to be destroyed again. As they were 

 never allowed to rear their young, it could not be the latter 

 which returned on migration to the favourite spot, and its 

 selection year after year is a very curious fact. 



The Merlin returns from its winter haunts at the end of 

 March or the beginning of April, laying about the middle of 

 May. 



Nest. Generally consisting of a hole scraped in the ground, 

 with a few twigs of ling or dry grass and roots. On the moors 

 it is built generally on a slope among the heather, and in other 

 localities on the ledge of a rock. 



Eggs. Four or five in number; usually of a clouded red, 

 varying in shade from light or deep chestnut to a reddish-choco- 

 late tint. The ground-colour is mostly obscured, but in the 

 rare examples where the cloudings are so sparse as to allow the 

 underlying colour to be seen, the latter is of a creamy-white, and 



