MERLIN. 11 



MERLIN. 



Falco cesalon. 



On Nov. 3rd, 1842, a female was shot at Bosham. On the 

 19th of Feb., 1844, I saw, near Cowfold, a Merlin rise from 

 the side of a hedge, mount perpendicularly to some height, 

 and again descend close to the same spot, whence it flew off 

 very rapidly, not more than a foot above the ground, over a 

 ploughed field close to the road. It was so close to me at 

 first that I had a good view of the slate-blue colour of the 

 upper parts, showing it to be an adult male. On Jan. 7th, 

 1852, an immature female was shot at Henfield, where I 

 saw it at the shop of Peter Ward, gunsmith.' I have often 

 seen this bird on the open downs in winter. According to 

 Mr. Knox, it prefers the open country to the weald. It 

 nests on the ground, but I have never heard of its having 

 done so in Sussex. 



Mr. Booth states that " on the South Downs these Hawks 

 are not unfrequently captured in the nets of the bird- 

 catchers. At times they dash suddenly down, with an 

 impetuous swoop, and destroy the brace-birds. Occasionally 

 they approach in a more cautious manner. I have noticed 

 them to settle first at some short distance, and then to draw 

 on towards their intended victims. In one instance a very 

 young Falcon alighted on the pull-line, where it remained 

 for several minutes, regardless of half a dozen persons within 

 a distance of twenty yards, its attention being apparently 

 entirely engrossed by the decoys in the net." 



In the 'Zoologist' Mr. EUman writes that a mature 

 female Merlin was shot at Rye Harbour, in February 1849, 

 and that this species appeared, in rather considerable num- 

 bers, in the neighbourhood of Lewes early in October in that 



