VOL. xm.] NESTING HABITS OF MERLIN. 205 



ing all the morning without any luck, or seeing a sign of the birds. 

 Came across a Nightjar {Caprimiilgus e. europcsus) siting on her two eggs 

 on the bare sand, halfway up a sand-hill. Went out again in the even- 

 ing to ■' B " to put up a " hide " near the Nightjar's, and was rewarded 

 with a fine view of the male Merlin mobbing two Ravens. The Merlin, 

 flying quickly, singled out and overhauled one of the Ravens, ana getting 

 above it " stooped " like a flash, only to be met by beak and claws as 

 the latter executed an amazingly quick sideways turn over on to its 

 back, barking with rage. Met in this fashion the Merlin dropped below 

 the Raven, which immediately righted itself and made off, only to be 

 easily overtaken again by its game little adversary, who mounting 



merlin's nest, eggs and young at " B." June 15th, 1919. 

 (Photographed by G. C. S. Ingram.) 



above once more, compelled it to turn over to receive the charge again. 

 These tactics went on until the birds dropped out of sight behind a dune. 

 It was a beautiful display on the part of both birds, and the quickness 

 of the Raven in turning over to receive the Merlin, and righting itself 

 again, was wonderful. 



While erecting the " hide " at the Nightjar's nesting place I heard a 

 Merlin's call, and soon spotted it outlined against the setting sun, on the 

 crest of a long and high sand-hill. As I got my glasses on it, I was just 

 in time to see another bird rise from the other side of the dune, alight 

 for a moment beside its mate, and then drop back out of sight again. 

 This little incident set me thinking. I made a wide detour around the 

 bird which had remained on the dune, until I had the sun on it, and saw 

 that it was the male. Walked towards it, and it flew off. Climbed 



