130 
MERLIN. 
all its turns and windings to escape, and unless 
cover is at hand, is generally successful. It is a 
bird of great activity, its small size allowing it to 
turn with ease ; and when passing from one part 
of an enclosed country to another, it flies with the 
rapidity of an arrow i darting with a gradual glide 
and closed wings through some vale, it again rises 
with rapid strokes, and again glides off, but the 
passage is almost instantaneous, and the spectator 
can only catch a glance of the active traveller ; 
or it skims along the enclosures, alternately rising 
as the ground varies, or some quarry is perceived. 
The Merlin is generally considered a migratory 
bird ; and in the southern counties of England, 
or in all those of a rich and cultivated character, 
it is probable that it may be only a winter visi- 
tant, from the want of a place suitable for its 
nidification, which are districts of a very wild 
description. In Scotland it resides permanently, 
migrating, however, partially from the low to the 
alpine districts during the season of incubation, 
and returning to the former when these duties are 
ended and the winter approaches. I have little 
doubt that the same takes place in the northern 
English counties, and in those where there is a 
portion of mountainous country. It is perhaps 
nowhere a very common bird, but in some parts 
is more abundant than in others. According to 
Mr Thompson’s observations, it is found in both 
