90 



8 



sites for breeding are well known to a large circle of Merlins ; otherwise it is difficult to account 

 for the choice always falling upon the same site, out of an indefinite number of others apparently 

 equally eligible. I have always found the number of eggs laid by the Merlin to be five. The 

 following summary of the fate of the Merlins in the two localities I have named is interesting as 

 showing that in the year 1872 the mysterious reserve stock of Merlins was apparently exhausted 

 in this locality. The gamekeepers have found out by experience that it is of no use to shoot the 

 birds before they have begun~to breed, as they so easily replace the loss. They shoot or snare 

 the cock bird as soon as they can after the hen has begun to sit. In the neighbourhood of the 

 nest are little rocky elevations on the ground which the cock bird uses as feeding-places, and 

 which are easily found by the feathers of Meadow-Pipits, Linnets, young Grouse, &c. scattered 

 round them. Upon these knolls traps are set ; and as soon as the cock bird is caught, the hen is 

 easily shot off the nest." 



Mr. Seebohm obtained full particulars of the fate of the unfortunate birds which bred at 

 the two breeding-places above referred to as follows: — "Nest near Stimes, 1869. Hen shot as 

 she was bringing food to the young. Cock shot with food in his mouth a quarter of an hour 

 afterwards. Young all destroyed. 



" 1870. Nest on the same bank. Cock trapped and killed in the morning. Hen trapped 

 in the afternoon in my presence. Eggs all taken, 28th May. 



" 1871. Nest on the same bank. Two eggs taken by myself 22nd May. Nest afterwards 

 forsaken. Birds very wild, and neither was shot this season. 



"1872. No Merlins appeared this year. 



" 1873. Nest on the same bank. Eggs taken, and both birds destroyed. 



"Nest near Ashopton, 1869. Both parents and all the young were destroyed by a party of 

 gamekeepers after the young had left the nest. 



" 1870. Hen shot soon after arrival. The cock found another mate, which was soon after- 

 wards also shot, and again replaced. Both these were shot before the nest was discovered. 



" 1871. Nest on the old bank. Both old birds and the young were destroyed. 



"1872. No Merlins appeared this year. 



" 1873. Nest on the old bank. I did not ascertain the fate of the parent birds." 



The eggs of the Merlin, from four to six in number, resemble those of the Kestrel, but are, 

 on an average, smaller in size, and scarcely vary so much in markings, though one often sees very 

 handsome varieties. The usual type appears to be dull brick-red, spotted and mottled with darker 

 brownish red, and slightly tinted with purple ; but amongst the series in my collection are three 

 from the same nest which are warm reddish white with a creamy tinge, tolerably closely spotted 

 with dark brick-red ; and another egg is almost uniform dull chestnut-red, sparingly marked with 

 a few blackish brown spots. 



The specimens figured are, on the one Plate, an adult male and female, these being the 

 specimens described, and in my collection. On the second Plate, which is taken from original 

 sketches made by Mr. J. Wolf, are figured a very old female and a young male. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



