A BATTLE IN THE AIR. 
127 
his attention is arrested, and he descends with great rapidity ; but, 
before reaching the waves, diverges in another direction, as if mortified 
that lie has lost a second opportunity. 
He now sails for a wliile at a short distance above the surface, and 
by a zigzag descent, and apparently without dipping his feet in the 
water, seizes a fish; which, after caiTying a short distance, he probably 
lets fall, and rises up in the manner already described to the higher 
regions of the atmosphere, where he glides to and fro with majestic 
facility. Suddenly from the keen aerial height he swoops downward 
like a perpendicular torrent, plunging into the sea with a loud, rushing 
sound, and with unerring certainty. A few moments, and he reappears 
with his struggling victim in his claws, carrying it always head 
foremost ; when a few feet above the surface, he shakes himself like a 
dog on coming ashore, and makes straight and swift for the land. If 
the wind is blowing strongly, and his nest lie in the quarter whence 
it comes, it is amusing, says Wilson, to observe the activity and 
judgment with which he beats to windward, not in a direct line, — 
that is, in the wind's eye, — but making several successive tacks to 
gain his purpose. 
A BATTLE IN THE AIR. 
Aerial combats are not uncommon ; and the Scotch naturalist, 
Thomas Edward, in the "Life" recently compiled by Mr. Smiles, fur- 
nishes a very graphic narrative of an encounter between a crow and the 
daring little Faleo cesalon, or merlin. While roaming along the sea- 
braes one morning, he heard a tremendous clamour of rooks and jack- 
daws ; and advancing a few steps, found them engaged in a united 
attack upon a little merlin. It might have been thought that such a 
host would have smothered the little creature "in a twinkling." But 
not so : the crows did not assail him all at once, nor yet singly; but 
three, four, and as many as seven, would assail him at a time, the main 
body at a short distance encouraging them apparently with their 
cawings. After a while one of these storming-parties would retire, 
and another would sally forth to the charge. The merlin, however, 
being swifter of wing and of lighter mettle, managed with singular 
dexterity to elude their blows; now rising, now descending, now 
