191- ACCIPITRES. 



lias a bluc-grcy tail^ crossed by a l)road subtcrmiual black baud ; but 

 the blue-grey cxtouds to the wiug-covcrts, scapulars, tertials, aud 

 interscapulars. The female and immature male closely resemble 

 those of the Kestrel, but may be distinguished by having seven 

 instead of nine dark bars across the tail, which is also less rounded. 



Figures : Dresser, Birds of Europe, iv. pi. 380 (male and female 

 adult), ])1. 381 (very old female and young in first plumage). 



The Merlin is a common resident in all the Japanese Islands. 

 There are several examples in the Swinhoe collection from Hakodadi, 

 and there are ten examples in the Pryer collection from Yokohama, 

 whence the first occurrence of this species in Japan Mas recorded 

 (Swinhoe, Ibis, 1877, p. 144). 



The range of the Merlin extends from the British Islands across 

 Europe aud Siberia to Japan. 



176. FALCO TINNUNCULUS. 

 (KESTREL.) 



Faico tinnunculus, Linneus, S^st. Nat. i. p. 127 (176G). 



The Japanese Kestrel belongs to the eastern race of the dark form 

 of the Kestrel ; and may be regarded as subspccifically distinct, under 

 tlie name (dating from 1845) of Falco tinnunculus japonicus (Tem- 

 minck and Schlegcl, Fauna Japonica, Aves, p. 2). 



The Kestrel varies in length of wing from 10^ to 9j inches. It 

 is very closely allied to the Merlin, the adult males of both species 

 having a blue-grey tail, crossed by a broad subterminal black band ; 

 but in the Kestrel the wing-coverts, scapulars, tertials, and inter- 

 scapulars arc chestnut, barred with black. The females and imma- 

 ture males are much more difficult to determine, but in the Kestrel 

 there are nine (instead of seven) dark bars across the tail, and the 

 outer feathers arc more than an inch (instead of less than half an 

 inch) shorter than the central ones. The outer toe is also more 

 nearly equal to the inner toe than it is in the Merlin. 



Figures : Temminck and Schlegcl, Fauna Japonica, Aves, pi. 1 

 (immature female), i)l. 1 h (adult male). 



The Japanese Kestrel is a common resident in the southern islands 

 of Japan, but is not known to have occurred in Yezzo. Mr. Ringer 

 has sent examples to the Norwich Museum procured at Nagasaki 



