MERLIN. 215 



larger disposed in opposite roundish spots ; the lower 

 surface of the quills and tail-feathers very beautifully 

 barred with greyish-white and dark grey. 



Length to end of tail 12 inches, to end of wings 10^ ; 

 extent of wings 26 ; wing from flexure 8^ ; tail 5 ; bill 

 along the back ^, along the edge of lower mandible f ; 

 tarsus 1/^ ; first toe /g, its claw ^^ ; second ^%, its 

 claw fl ; third lj%y its claw f^j fourth {§, its claw j%. 



Female. — The female, which is considerably larger, 

 differs also in the colours of its plumage. The bill is 

 light blue, tipped with black, as in the male; the cere 

 wax-yellow ; the eyelids greenish-yellow ; the tarsi and 

 toes pure-yellow ; the claws black. The general colour 

 of the upper parts is deep brown, slightly tinged with 

 blue, each feather having a central line of black. Part 

 of the hind neck is yellowish-white, the feathers there 

 tipped with brown. The quills, larger coverts, and 

 alula, have a regular series of rounded light red spots 

 on both webs, and their tips are of the same colour, but 

 paler. On the tail are five conspicuous bars of pale 

 reddish-brown spots, and a terminal band of greyish- 

 white ; the lateral feathers having two more of these 

 light bars at the base. A yellowish line, margined be- 

 neath with blackish-brown, extends over the eye. The 

 throat and cheeks are yellowish-white, the longer fea- 

 thers of the latter tipped with brown ; and from the 

 angle of the mouth is a band of brown, formed by the 

 central markings of the feathers. The lower parts in 

 general are pale reddish-yellow, marked with numerous 

 oblong spots of brown, larger than those of the male ; 

 the abdominal feathers and lower tail-coverts nearly 



