I go 
allen’s naturalist’s library. 
ceedings ot trained Peregrines on the wing, and more than 
once noticed one hovering over hooded Hawks on their 
cadge. Ihe Merlin seldom flies at any great height ex- 
cept, of course, when in pursuit of any soaring quarry or 
bound on a lengthy journey. In our district of Northampton- 
shire, where this species is by no means rare on passage, we 
generally notice it flying low along the course of our river or 
tributary brooks, or along the fence-sides, in search or in 
pursuit of small birds. An old Wagtail or Pipit cuts out a 
Merlins work for her; and I have often witnessed beautiful 
and prolonged flights at these birds, which, generally in the 
winter season, terminated in favour of the intended victim ” 
Lord Lilford also disbelieves in the damage which is supposed 
to be wrought by this little Falcon among young Game Birds 
as he points out very truly that the latter are jealously pro- 
tected by their parents. ^ 
A curious habit of the Merlin as regards the tenacity with 
which It adheres to its nesting-place is related by Mr. Seebohm 
He says that he has known a patch of heather, only some 
couple of yards square, which had a Merlin’s nest for many 
years, though no other breeding-place could be found within a 
distance of eight or ten miles ; and, although the birds were 
persistently trapjied or shot by the gamekeepers, year after 
year, a pair of Merlins always tried to nest in the identical 
spot the next year, only to be destroyed again. As they were 
never allowed to rear their young, it could not be the latter 
which returned on migration to the favourite spot, and its 
selection year after year is a very curious fact. 
The Merlin returns from its winter haunts at the end of 
March or the beginning of April, laying about the middle of 
May. 
MTest.— Generally consisting of a hole scraped in the <^round 
with a few twigs of ling or dry grass and roots. On the moors 
It is built generally on a slope among the heather, and in other 
localities on the ledge of a rock. 
Egg3.-Four or five in number; usually of a clouded red 
varying in shade from hght or deep chestnut to a reddish-choco- 
late tint. The ground-colour is mostly obscured, but in the 
rare examples where the cloudings are so sparse as to allow the 
underlying colour to be seen, the latter is of a creamy-white, and 
i 
