LORD LILFOUD ON BIRDS IN THE LILFORD AVIARIES. 143 
its habits, especially in flight, it so closely resembles the Kestrels. 
Both the Hobbies and Kestrels are more or less crepuscular, this 
Orange-legged Falcon especially so ; but I have seen La Marmora’s 
Falcon and both species of Kestrel also on wing by moonlight. 
The present species is mainly insectivorous, but as far as I have 
bad opportunities of observation, generally takes its prey upon the 
ground about sunset. With the solitary exception of the Honey- 
Buzzard, this is by far the most active on the ground of all the 
raptorial birds of my acquaintance. I have met with it in some 
abundance in the Ionian Islands and in Cyprus on the vernal 
migration, but have no evidence of its breeding in the former 
locality, as it certainly does occasionally in the latter. I have kept 
many Merlins, Falco awalon, but never had any success worthy of 
mention with them in the field, though, as you arc probably aware, 
they are trained by several English falconers to a high degree of 
perfection, principally at Skylarks ; and I have witnessed a few 
beautiful flights at these birds in your county in the neighbour- 
hood of Feltwell. I may here mention that I have two well 
authenticated ancient records of the nesting of the Merlin in 
Northamptonshire, and another recent one of the taking of young 
Merlins from a nest in a wood in our neighbouring county of 
Hunts. In both of the ancient instances the nest was on the 
ground. 
A good many Merlins pass along the valley of the Nenc, our 
principal Northamptonshire river, on their southward migration in 
September and October, generally in close attendance on the flights 
of travelling Pipits and Finches which take that route towards 
their winter-quarters. These little Falcons always show a re- 
markable interest and curiosity about the proceedings of our 
trained Peregrines, and I have seen a good Tiercel fairly bothered 
by two Merlins whilst he was “ waiting on ” at a good pitch over 
a turnip-field. I must conclude with the record of having once 
purchased in London a very ragged specimen of the American 
Kestrel, Falco sparverius, which only lived with us for a few 
days. As I have never crossed the Atlantic, I am, of course, 
unable to describe the habits of this pretty little Hawk from 
personal observation. 
VOL. v. 
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