On Tue, 21 Nov 1995, Stuart MacKay wrote:

> I think there might be a couple of errors or at least alternatives:
>
> > Martyn Hawkes
>
> What about Hobby which regularly preys on swifts and swallows.
>
> > Fursekytte literally, fierce kite
>
> Could be Merlin since Furse or Furze refers to gorse and so
> heathland - but in that case this also might refer to nightjar.

The problem with this suggestion is that both the Hobby and the Merlin
were protected as falcons. In the feudal hierarchy that matched birds to
status, the Merlin was reserved for a Lady and the Hobby for the Page.
It thus seems unlikely that one group of statutes would impose severe
penalties for raiding eyries or destroying eggs and another woul dimpose
a bounty.


dale -- curious in moscow -- goble