210 



FALCO .ESALON. 



THE MERLIX. 



The wings, when closed, reaching to within two 

 inches of the tip of the tail, which has five conspi- 

 cuous dark hands, the last much larger ; the length 

 from twelve to fourteen inches. Of the male, the up- 

 per parts deep greyish-hlue, each feather with a black 

 central line, the lower parts light reddish-yellow, with 

 oblong dark brown spots. Of the female, the up- 

 per parts dark bluish-grey? tinged with brown, and 

 lined with black, the lower yellowish white, with large 

 brown spots. Of the young, the upper parts brown, 

 spotted with pale red ; a narrow stripe of brown spots 

 from the angle of the mouth ; the lower parts yellowish- 

 white, with large longitudinal brown markings. 



Male. — The Merlin, which is one of the most beau- 

 tiful and lively birds of its genus, has a form indicative 

 of strength and agility. The body is elongated ovate-, 

 rather deeper than broad anteriorly ; the neck very 

 short and strong ; the head large, broad, and flattened 

 above. The bill is short and very strong ; the upper 

 mandible with its dorsal line curved from the base, so 

 as to form nearly the fourth of a circle, its sides con- 

 vex, its edges sharp anteriorly, with a slight central 

 festoon, anterior to which is the angular process cha- 

 racteristic of the genus, and which in this species is 

 very distinct, and with its sides forming nearly a right 



