3^4 



FALCON AND EAGLE GROUP 



merle (blackbird) falcon, for whereas those writers who separate the 

 gcr-falcons from F"alco include in that genus the present species, the 

 scheme here followed, which does not recognise the generic distinctness 

 of the ger-falcons, refers the merlin to a separate genus. On this 

 scheme, the name of the species is ^salon regidus, in place of the 

 more familiar Falco icsalou. 



The four species of merlin (inclusive of the red-headed African 

 species, sometimes separated as Chicqueraj are small falcons collectively 

 characterised by the wing being more rounded than in the gcr-falcons, 



THE ROWLAND WARD STUDIOS 



SO that the second quill is not the longest of the series, but is approxi- 

 mately equal in this respect to the third, as is the first to the fourth. 

 The first and second primary quills are notched on the inner web, as 

 in the ger-falcons ; but, on the other hand, the inner and outer toes are 

 unequal in length, as in the peregrine and hobb}-. 



Approximately equal in length to the red-footed falcon, the male 

 merlin (in addition to the above-mentioned generic characters) may be 

 recognised by the dark shaft-streaks to the slat)'-blue feathers of the 

 upper-parts, coupled with the presence of a broad black bar across 

 the tail-feathers a short distance in advance of the white tips. The 

 fully adult female is stated to be generally similar to her mate, but. 

 usually at any rate, is dark sepia-brown above, with the black tail-band 



