MERLIN. 
FALCO AE SALON. 
Tnoron the true home of this dashing little Falcon is without doubt in the land of the heather and mist, I 
can safely assert from my own experience that it is widely distributed over the British Islands. I have met 
with the nests and eggs within a short distance of John o’ Groats, and obtained immature specimens both on 
the Kentish shingle-banks and the cliffs near the Land’s End. Not an autumn that I have passed in East 
Norfolk has gone by without several having been noticed sweeping over the Snipe-marshes in the vicinitv of 
the coast; and on several occasions I have come across their breeding-stations in the Outer Hebrides. 
The Merlin seems as much at home on the steepest hillsides of the Central and Western Highlands as 
it does on the flat moors of the north and cast. I have but once seen the adult male further south than the 
fells of Cumberland ; in this instance I was surprised to notice a flne old bird, which dashed past me in front 
of the beaters while a wood was being driven in East Norfolk; this was in the month of December. In April 
1876, while driving along the coast-road between Shorcham and Lancing, my attention was attracted by a 
small Hawk that skimmed close past the trap and settled on a ridge of beach a few yards distant from the 
rising tide. The bird was so intently watching the actions of a large flock of Dotterel and Dunlins wheeling 
over the sands, that it took not the slightest notice of my approach. As it sat so low in the shingle, I could 
scarcely make out the species ; so, waiting until it made a move, I obtained a shot, and then discovered it was 
an immature male of this species, with only a few blue feathers showing on the back. The Plate is taken from 
this specimen, and clearly shows the state of plumage. With this single exception, all the Merlins I have 
observed in the south of England have been either old or young females, or males in too early a sta-c to 
be recognized. J s 
On the South Downs these Hawks are not unfrequcntly captured in the nets of the bird-catchers U 
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 settle first at some short distance, and then draw 
on towards their intended prey. 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. * 3 
It is stated on good authority that this species will attack birds of considerable size ■ mv own „» 
rations, however, would lead me to believe that it will seldom fly at any prey of greater weight tha s 
consequently the damage it inflicts on game must be exceedingly slight. * ” ° bmpe; 
The food they procure in order to supply their youn<? varies according to ,• * . , . , . 
found. In the Hebrides I observed they preyed principally on Snipe and Thrushes • IndTn ^ a ‘ e 
in° d l“ Iua? “tims “T Tm “ ‘ ^ « 
Redwings, greatly to my disgust, as I was intending to search out their ne“! tog ZlTty 
