MERLIN. 213 



The plumag"e of the upper parts is compact, of the 

 lower also strong, but blended. The cere is nearly 

 bare on its upper and fore part. ' The radiating loral 

 feathers, and those about the base of the bill, are bristle- 

 tipped, but distantly barbed in the greater part of their 

 extent. The feathers of the head are short, ovato- 

 lanceolate, with a long tapering point ; those of the neck 

 oblong and rounded, as are those of the back and 

 breast ; of the sides long, of the inner side of the leg 

 and tarsus soft and silky, of the outer elongated and 

 loose at the ends. The wings are long, rather broad, 

 narrowed towards the end ; the primary quills strong, 

 tapering, rounded, the third longest, the second very 

 little shorter, the first a little shorter than the fourth, 

 the fifth an inch shorter, the rest slowly graduated ; the 

 first and second abruptly cut out on the inner web near 

 the end, the second and third slightly cut out on the out- 

 er web ; the secondary quills thirteen, curved inwards, 

 broad and rounded. The tail is long, nearly even, the 

 lateral feathers a little shorter ; of twelve rather broad, 

 rounded feathers, which, as well as the secondary quills, 

 have a minute acumen. 



The bill is pale blue at the base, bluish-black at the 

 end ; the cere dull wax-yellow, the bare parts of the 

 eyelids greenish yellow. The palate is of a dark leaden 

 blue, the inside of the mandibles pale blue; the tongue 

 flesh-coloured, its horny part blue. The irides are 

 dark brown ; the feet orange-yellow, the claws black. 



The upper part of the head is dark brownish-grey, 

 each feather with a central line of black. The anterior 

 part of the forehead, the loral space, and the cheeks, 

 are greyish-white, the latter with blackish lines. Over 



