l82 



BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



fIDerlin. 



John Bua/ca/^. 



The Merlin {I^a/co cesalon^ Brisson) is a breeding species in 

 the British Isles, but is said to be partially migratory in the 

 winter ; it also occurs in the Northern Palearctic Region. 

 The adult male has the general colour of the upper parts 

 slaty-blue ; shafts of feathers, black ; nape, rufous, streaked 

 with dark brown ; primaries, blackish, with white bars on 

 inner webs ; tail, bluish-grey, with a broad black subterminal 

 band, and white tips ; throat, white ; under parts, rufous, 

 striped with dark brown ; irides, brown ; bill, bluish, tip 

 darker; cere, legs, and feet, yellow. Length, from ten to 



