322 FALCONRY 



and therefore the hawk cannot master its prey so as to put it 

 to a speedy death as the peregrine does, by breaking its neck. 



It requires some trouble, as a rule, to enter a merlin to 

 pigeons, just as in the case of any other quarry that is somewhat 

 beyond the strength of the hawk which is to fly 'it ; but, although 

 it is rather interesting to see these little falcons tackle a bird 

 with powers fully equal to their own, yet as it can only lead to 

 flights at bagged quarry, we do not propose to enter further 

 into a description of this flight. 



We cannot, from personal experience, say that snipe can be 

 killed with trained merlins,, but it seems very possible that 

 hawks accustomed to ring after larks would be able to take 

 this quarry also. 



On the whole merlins, though, if compared with the falcons 

 treated of in the preceding chapters, they must be ranked as 

 toys, are well worthy the consideration of falconers, especially 

 of the tyro in that art. They require but little training, or 

 trouble to manage. They are not easily broken to the hood, 

 nor is much education necessary, for so tame are these little 

 birds that they will sit quietly enough bareheaded until the 

 bird springs near them. The hood should only be used when 

 travelling, and should be removed as soon as the field is 

 reached, for it will be found that merlins will not fly readily 

 ' out of the hood ' as peregrines do, especially on bright sunny 

 days. 



They must always be fed twice a day, kept very warm, and 

 especially free from damp ; either a loft with a stove in it, or a 

 condition of entire liberty at hack with liberal feeding, affords 

 the best chance of keeping them alive after summer is past. 



Of hobbies we can say but little from personal experi- 

 ence, except that they are, of all falcons, the most elegant, 

 whether on the wing or on the block. Partly insectivorous in 

 habits, they lack the dash and courage requisite for a bird of 

 sport. Many have been trained of late years, but with no 

 success as far as sport is concerned, although the hawks them- 

 selves were found perfectly docile, very fine-tempered, admir- 



