XI THE KESTREL AND MERLIN - 107 



mice. Any person who knows a kestrel-hawk by sight must 

 have constantly observed them hovering nearly stationary in 

 the air, above a grass-field, watching for the exit from its hole 

 of some unfortunate field-mouse. When feeding their young, a 

 .pair of kestrels destroy an immense number of these mischievous 

 little quadrupeds, which are evidently the favourite food of these 

 birds. Being convinced of their great utility in this respect, I 

 never shoot at, or disturb a kestrel. It is impossible, however, 

 to persuade a gamekeeper that any bird called a hawk can be 

 harmless ; much less can one persuade so opinionated and 

 conceited a personage (as most keepers are) that a hawk can 

 be useful ; therefore the poor kestrel generally occupies a 

 prominent place amongst the rows of bipeds and quadrupeds 

 nailed on the kennel, or wherever else those trophies of his skill 

 are exhibited. It is a timid and shy kind of hawk, and there- 

 fore very difficult to tame, never having an appearance of 

 contentment or confidence in its master when kept in captivity. 

 Another beautiful little hawk is common here in the winter, 

 .the merlin.^ This bird visits us about October, and leaves us 

 -in the spring. Scarcely larger than a thrush, the courageous 

 little fellow glides with the rapidity of thought on blackbird or 

 fieldfare, sometimes even on tlie partridges, and striking his 

 game on the back of the head, kills it at a single blow. The 

 merlin is a. very bold bird, and seems afraid of nothing. I one 

 day winged one as he was passing over my head at a great 

 height. The little fellow, small as he was, flung himself on his 

 back when I went to pick him up, and gave battle most furiously, 

 darting out his talons (which are as sharp and hard as needles) 

 at everything that approached him. We took him home, 

 however, and I put him into the walled garden where he lived 

 for more than a year. He very soon became quite tame, and 

 came on being called to receive his food, which consisted of 

 birds, mice, etc. So fearless was he, that he flew instantly at 



' The merlin breeds on the heather generally ; sometimes in a tree. It has four eggs. 

 ^C. St. John. 



The merlin is a regular summer migrant to the moors of South Yorkshire and 

 North Derbyshire. These moors are the constant breeding-place of three species of hawk 



the kestrel, the sparrowhawk, and the merlin. The kestrel hovers over the ground at 



a considerable heiglit, and pounces down on a mouse, and occasionally a lizard or a young 

 grouse. The sparrowhawk skims over hill-tops or hedges, or round rocks, and comes 

 upon its prey unawares. The merlin, on the contrary, fairly flies it down. The merlin 

 lays its eggs about the middle of May, so that the voracious young may be fed upon young 

 grouse.— Seebobra, Siieria in Eurofe, p. S3. 



