324 FALCO ^SALON. 



pale reddish-yellow, with broad longitudinal streaks of dark 

 umber brown ; the lower tail-coverts and some of the abdomi- 

 nal feathers without markings, and those on the tibial feathers 

 very slender. Some of the feathers on the sides have one or 

 two pairs of round spots. The lower surface of the wings and 

 tail transversely banded with dusky grey and pale reddish. 



A female individual is similar, but has the upper parts rather 

 lighter, the lower less tinged with red, and the markings there 

 of a lighter brown ; the number of light bands on the lateral 

 tail-feathers, including the tip-band, nine ; which I think is 

 invariably the number in old and young. 



Remarks. — The Merlin is so intimately allied to the Pigeon 

 Hawk of America, Falco columbarius, that were individuals 

 of both species presented for inspection, it would be very 

 difficult to distinguish them. In all the specimens of the latter 

 that I have examined, the light bands on the tail-feathers were 

 fewer, being five on the middle, and eight on the lateral feathers. 

 But I know very few instances of so perfect a mutual resem- 

 blance in two species ; and it is therefore not altogether im- 

 probable that Falco columbarius may exist in Britain, as the 

 only other two North American Falcons occur there. 



In a work on the Rapacious Birds of this country which I 

 published some years ago, I remarked that I had not met with 

 individuals of different sexes that varied much in size ; but 

 having since then examined a great number of individuals, I 

 am now of opinion that the male is generally much smaller 

 than the female. The smallest male which I have seen mea- 

 sured eleven and a quarter inches in length, and the largest 

 female thirteen and three quarters ; but in actual bulk their 

 difference was very great. 



