io8 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS chap. 



the largest kind of sea-gull or crow that we gave him. When 

 hungry, and no other food was at hand, he would attend the 

 gardener when digging, and swallow the large earthworms as 

 they were turned up. To my great regret, we found the little 

 bird lying dead under the tree in which he usually roosted ; 

 and though I examined him carefullyj I could not find out the 

 cause of his death. 



Although all these small hawks which frequent this country 

 destroy a certain quantity of game, their principal food consists 

 of thrushes, blackbirds, andpther small birds. In the winter, 

 when the greenfinches collect in large flocks on the stubble fields, 

 I have frequently seen the merlin or sparrowhawk suddenly 

 glide round the angle of some hedgerow or plantation, and 

 taking up a bird from the middle of the flock, carry it off almost 

 before his presence was observed by the rest of the greenfinches. 



Sometimes two merlins hunt together, and, as it were, course 

 a lark, or even swallow, in the air, the two hawks assisting each 

 other in the most systematic manner. First one hawk chases 

 the unfortunate bird for a short time, while his companion hovers 

 quietly at hand ; in a minute or so, the latter relieves his fellow- 

 hunter, who in his turn rests. In this way they soon tire out 

 the lark or swallow ; and catching the poor bird in mid-air, one 

 of the hawks flies away with him, leaving his companion to hunt 

 alone till his return from feeding their young brood. 



The hobby,^ a beautiful little hawk, like a miniature peregrine 

 falcon, is not very common here, though I have occasionally 

 killed it. This kind of hawk leaves us before the winter. I 

 have seen its nest in a fir or larch tree ; but they seem to be 

 very rare here. A strong courageous bird, the hobby attacks 

 and preys on pigeons and partridges, though so much larger 

 than himself 



Since the introduction of English traps and keepers, all birds 

 of prey are gradually decreasing in this country, whilst black- 

 birds, thrushes, and other singing birds increase most rapidly. 

 In the highland districts of Moray, where a few years back a 

 blackbird or thrush was rather a rare bird, owing to the skill and 

 perseverance of gamekeepers and vermin-trappers in extermi- 



' The hobby (Falco suiiuieo) is a regular summer migrant to temperate Europe and 

 Asia, and still breeds in the British Islands. A few winter in South Europe, but most 

 appear to migrate into Africa, occasionally straying as far as the Cape. Eastwards it 

 V inters in India and South China, — Seebohm, Siberia in Surote, p. 139. 



