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pigeon was flying across a field, when the hawk dashed 

 down with lightning speed on its victim. I saw the 

 hawk distinctly for a hundred yards before it struck. 

 It is difficult adequately to describe the mode of attack, 

 further than to say that the hawk assumed the shape 

 of a wedge, the wings being taut "as sails filled with 

 a stiff breeze." In an instant the blow was given, a 

 cloud of feathers flew from the pigeon, and it fell life- 

 less to the ground. Running up and hallooing, the 

 hawk flew off. Picking up the pigeon and plucking 

 it, not a scratch was visible ; but death was evidently 

 due to what appeared to be a severe bruise along the 

 backbone. Those who have noted the sharp claws of 

 the sparrow-hawk will have difficulty in believing that 

 the blow is struck with them, otherwise some part of 

 the skin must necessarily be torn. 



The merlin the smallest British bird of prey is 

 a handsome bird. He is, however, a merciless tyrant 

 among small birds and young game, and his presence 

 cannot be permitted by the game-preserver. Though 

 destructive to game, he is more of a small-bird 

 destroyer, and a pair of them are computed to kill a 

 thousand birds in a year, including, of course, those 

 carried to their young. I have never seen a merlin 

 kill a bird larger than a thrush, but Major Morant 

 says : " We once put up a hen grouse in the month of 

 February, which was immediately pursued by a merlin. 

 On coming over a ridge which had concealed the birds 

 from our view, the merlin rose from the heather ; and 



