THE MERLIN. 
23 
place for a no situation being unsiiited to its habits. 
Upon the summit of the highest hills, it is constantly to be 
seen beating among the heather for such small birds as harbour 
there. In the wildest ranges of sea cliffs, it is similarly 
employed; in the marshes, it is constantly on the look-out for 
dunlins and snipes; upon the sea-shore, especially during the 
winter months, it may be observed sitting patiently among 
the seaweed-covered rocks, and not very easily distinguishable, 
waiting for the first flock of shore-haunting birds which may 
happen to skim past ; and at any moment we may expect to 
see it at the kitchen-door, in search of some unsuspicious 
sparrow or mountain linnet, or dashing past the windows in 
hot and heedless pursuit of a terrified pigeon, — a bird which, 
though so much superior in weight, it nevertheless often suc- 
ceeds in striking down. Sometimes, however, the pigeon is 
more frightened than hurt. One struck by a Merlin fell 
almost at my feet, panting for breath; on taking it up, I found 
a few loose and slightly blood-stained feathers upon the back, 
and when,' after giving it a few minutes for recovery, I tossed 
it up, it flew off unharmed to its own home, which, by the way, 
it had scarcely reached, when the saucy little Merlin came 
dashing up, but only to retire in disappointment, after several 
vain attempts to make either it or its companions take wing. 
It is by no means an uncommon occurrence for it to enter 
at an open door, through which its intended victim has fled for 
shelter, and occasionally it is itself made prisoner by the 
inmates. I remember shutting one up in a peat-shed, into which 
it had been attracted by a brood of young chickens. The 
indignant mother seemed desirous to avenge the insult in her 
own way, bur a small hole in the eaves enabled the thief to 
elude us both. Such was his impudence, that not two 
minutes afterwards he was dashing about over the house, en- 
deavouring to make the pigeons take flight. Birds, from the 
size of a wren to that of a golden plover or a rock dove, con- 
stitute its food, but it is said to feed also upon mice and insects. 
This, however, must be in times of great scarcity. I never 
