VOL. XV.] BREEDING-HABITS OV MERLIN. 



251 



seem to take no notice of them. The call of a Golden Plover, 

 however, brought them all to attention. 



" At about 8.30 I re-focussed the camera on the old site, 

 hoping if the sky cleared to get a moonlight exposure of the 

 sleeping birds. Whether the hen on the rock saw my hand 

 go to the front or not I do not know, but the light was very 

 poor and the whole camera well in the hide, and I should 

 have thought it quite impossible. A few minutes later. 



Merlin; Fig. 13. Stretching. 

 {Photographed by W. Rowan.) 



however, she began the alarm ' Kek,' or what sounded like 

 it to me, and kept it up till 9, once coming over the tent 

 when the young sat motionless, wide-eyed. Then came 

 the rapid ' Kek ' of the male, when the hen switched into 

 the ' Eep ' note and met him. The young showed no desire 

 for food, but relaxed from their tense attitude and began 

 preening again. They now rubbed their beaks together and 

 began huddling up, breasts together and heads all mixed 

 up on top of the downy pile. And thus at 9.30 they fell 

 asleep. Of the old birds I saw or heard no more. 



