MERLIN. 
i3r 
the north and south of Ireland, and breeds in the 
mountains of Londonderry, Mourne, and some 
similar localities. On the approach of winter, 
both adults and young descend to the low grounds 
and coast, preferring thus the partial migration as 
in Scotland. The Merlin is trained by Mr Sinclaire 
to hunt larks and snipes.* 
The mountain ranges on the Scottish Border 
contain in the season many breeding places, 
which are as regularly returned to as those of 
the Peregrine. The site is generally selected 
on the side of some ravine, far into these wild 
tracts of subalpine moorland 5 the nest is- placed 
on a projecting rock, bank, or tuft of heath, 
not remarkable for its precipitous situation, and 
commonly very easily accessible ; it is composed 
of a few sticks or stalks of heather loosely and 
coarsely laid together without any lining. The 
eggs are from three to five in number, of a 
dark reddish brown, with darker spots and 
blotches, the colour, form, and markings, with 
the variation of the different specimens, resem- 
bling those of the Peregrine, (see pi. II fig. 2., 
The female is easily approached at first ; but if 
disturbed more than once, or fired at, becomes 
extremely shy. The male is generally near at 
hand, perched on some rising ground or rocky 
See Mag. of Zool. and Bot. vol. it. 
