The Merlin. 77 



in the northern and midland counties, where it places its nest on 

 the ground, not on trees or rocks as Temminck says.* Meyer 

 remarks that when on the wing it may be distinguished from the 

 Hobby by the greater length of its tail in proportion to the wings 

 and by its more robust form. 



With us it is a winter visitant, arriving in October, and leaving 

 us in the spring. I have on several occasions myself seen it at 

 Yatesbury, where it frequented a splendid old yew tree in the 

 churchyard, and I have notices of its occurrence in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Salisbury, 1837 ; Chippenham, 1840 ; Devizes and 

 Warminster, 1850 ; while Mr. Stratton told me it was a constant 

 visitor on the Downs at Gore Cross, and that he caught no less 

 than three specimens from one stump on his farm ; he told me 

 also that he has been astonished at its amazing boldness and 

 dexterity in pursuit of starlings, chasing them, singling one out, 

 and as certainly bearing it off in triumph. Mr. Rawlence, too, 

 has Wiltshire specimens in his collection. Of more recent date 

 than the above notices, the Rev. A. P. Morres speaks of it as not 

 uncommon in the neighbourhood of Salisbury ; and Mr. Tyndall 

 Powell, of Hurdcott, mentioned no less than four specimens as 

 coming under his notice in the winter of 1877 ; and in a letter 

 recently received from him, he says, speaking of last autumn 

 (1886), that it was an extraordinary year for Merlins in the 

 Broad Chalk Hills, for that he had himself shot two hen birds 

 and one male, and had seen many more ; adding, that the hills 

 and ravines of that particular district appeared to him to be 

 a favourite retreat for all kinds of hawks. In North Wilts, Mr. 

 C. A. Sladen recorded one shot at Alton Barnes, December 27, 

 1871. The Marlborough College 'Reports ' notice one caught in 

 the college grounds in September, 1872 ; one shot near Ramsbury 

 in January, 1875 ; and another at Marlborough in April, 1881. 

 Mr. Gwatkin records two killed at Tilshead, one of which fell to 

 his own gun in Oct., 1881 ; the other was taken in Feb., 1884. 

 Mr. G. Watson Taylor says it visits Erlestoke ; and to sum up 

 all, Mr. Grant's list comprises one received from Mr. H. E. 

 * Selby, 'Illustrations of British Ornithology/ vol. i., p. 51. 



