THE MERLIN. 
L>f) 
open gi’Oimds, seldom resting near a garden except when 
pressed by hunger, or when small birds are unusually numerous. 
They may then be seen beating up and down until some poor 
victim, venturing forth, is instantly pounced upon and carried 
oft’. 
It is asserted by some that young Merlins leave Shetland as 
soon as the winter sets in. Certain it is that the numbers 
decrease about that time, and that I have only shot old birds 
during that season. Looking over my notes, I find that all the 
adult males had the cere, tarsi, and feet deep gamboge yellow, 
more or less tinged with orange ; the females and young 
having those parts sulphur yellow, rather darker in the young 
males. 
Its habits, as most observers have remarked, are similar to 
those of the Peregrine, but with the exception that it is much 
bolder. I have repeatedly seen it, with rapid swoops and loud 
menacing cries, send a cat sneaking home from under a hedge, 
and I once saw it openly attack a full-grown hooded crow ; only 
desisting when, attract(id by the outcry, two old ones came 
hurriedly to the rescue. Although bold in many respects, it is 
as difficult to approach as the Peregrine, on open ground, and 
also has the same habit of dodging over to the opposite side of 
a stone or a wall. More than once I have known it seize a 
newly shot golden plover as it fell, and although unable to lift 
it many inches from the ground, and constantly compelled to 
drop it, make such good use of its opportunity as to be far 
beyond reach with it by the time the shouting and gesticulating 
shooter, having reloaded, was at liberty to follow in pursuit. 
The name “ Stone-Falcon” has been well applied to this 
species, its favourite haunt being the stone-bestrewn side of a 
hill, whether for the purpose of concealment from an enemy, 
or for that of watching for any unsuspecting victim which may 
chance to come Hitting by. My first acquaintance with it 
was made under curious circumstances. I was returning home 
over a piece of stony ground one evening, when, looking round 
for some mark at which to discharge my gun before going 
