M1QBATI0NS OF BIRDS AT TUSKAR BOCK. 195 



a Merlin flying towards the Eock with a Pipit in its talons.* 

 Likewise we should expect that Owls, harassing small birds at 

 night, would so confuse them as to render them in the vicinity 

 of the lantern more liable to rush in and strike the glass. I have 

 seen a flock of Terns brush by the lantern in the dusk of the 

 evening when pursued by a couple of Skuas, and if the latter put 

 their piratical methods of seeking food into action during the 

 hours of darkness, there may be forthcoming a cause of the 

 sudden approach of numbers of Terns, which I have seen 

 precipitating themselves against the glass, as though they were 

 taking the lantern by storm. 



~ :: The Merlin alighted and commenced plucking before I disturbed it. 

 Hence I recognized his quarry by examining some of its feathers. 



(To be continued.) 



