THE HABITS OF THE MERLIN. 
E. WILFRED TAYLOR. 
(PLATES X. AND XI.). 
During the last few years I have observed from cover, the 
actions and habits of the Merlin at five different nests, and spent 
many interesting days thus concealed, usually within three 
yards of the nest. 
The first nest I found was in the middle of a clump of tall 
and wiry old heather, and before reaching it I had the pleasure 
of seeing the hen bird rise up from the nest and commence to 
circle round overhead, kek-keking in the manner peculiar 
to so many of the rapacious birds. 
A shepherd had found this nest a few days previously 
when the young were only two or three days old, and a friendly 
keeper had constructed near by a shelter composed of heather 
built around a light cane structure. This was about thirty 
feet from the nest, a thick little clump of heather being intended 
for the camera. Having first arranged and concealed the 
camera I entered the hut at about 9-30 a.m. The young were 
then about a fortnight old and seemed very sleepy. I waited 
until about 6 p.m., the young having done little but sleep all 
day, evidently having had a very heavy feed early in the morn- 
ing and the only evidence I ever had of the presence of the 
adults was the occasional kek-keking overhead. I came 
to the conclusion that the young were fed early and late, and 
decided to be up in good time on the morrow. 
On the following morning I left the keepers’ lodge at about 
5 a.m., with camera and some old sacking, as the day promised 
rain. Half an hour later I was safely concealed in the tent, 
and three eventless hours followed, the sky having meanwhile 
darkened and a thunderstorm commenced. Except for the 
first few days the young are rarely brooded even during very 
heavy rain, and in this case they were soon soaked through, 
but nevertheless seemed lively and expectant ; at times they 
almost wandered out of the field of view. At 8-30 I heard a 
rustling of wings and the female alighted on the shelter above 
my head before flying down to feed the now clamorous young 
with a small passerine bird which she had previously plucked. 
She paid no more visits until late evening ; this and early 
morning appeared to be the recognized feeding times at this 
nest. On one occasion I had an excellent view of her chasing 
away a pair of carrion crows that chanced to fly over the nest, 
and I saw her strike at the hindermost one. 
The second nest was away on another moor, and contained 
four eggs. From these one usually flushed the female bird 
when about fifty yards from the nest ; she would then rise up 
and commence circling overhead, uttering her alarm notes. 
1914 April 1. 
