36 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



than tlie male, with the markings more rufous, and the lower parts 

 ochry white, tinged with rufous on the breast, and the spots larger 

 and more numerous. 



Length of a female 13$ inches ; wing nearly 9 ; tail 5^ : the 

 wings reach to about 1^ inches from the end of the tail, which is 

 very slightly rounded. A male was 11^ inches ; wing 8 ; tail 5. 



The third quill feather is about equal to the second. 



The Merlin appears a very rare visitant to the extreme north 

 west frontier of India, during the cold season only. Dr. Adams 

 observed it in the north west of the Punjab. Mr. Blyth, in his 

 Catalogue, gives the north west Himalayas Nvith a query. 



It is found in Europe and Western Asia, and used to be trained 

 to hunt quails, larks, and even snipe, in England. It is said to 

 follow the quarry very closely, and to be a bird of great activity 

 and speed. In these particulars it resembles the next one. It is 

 said to breed on the side of some ravine, on a rock, or bank. 



16. Hypotriorchis Chicquera, Daud. 



Falco, apud Daudin — SYKES,Cat. 14 — HortSF.,Cat.27 — Blyth, 

 Cat. QQ> — Jerdon, Cat. 30 — Gould, Him. Birds, pi. 2 — Turumti, 

 Yurumtari, Turumti, and Tutri mutri, Hind, (the female) — Cheiiva, 

 (the male) — Jellaganta, or Jelgadda, Tel. — JelJcat of the Yerklees. 



The Turumti, or Eed-headed Merlin. 



Descr. — Young bird, head, nape, and moustache dark dusky 

 rufous, with dark mesial lines ; the upper parts grey, with dark 

 markings to all the feathers ; quills darker ; tail with numerous 

 bars, and a broad black terminal band ; beneath white, more or less 

 tinged rusty, with some streaks on the neck and breast, and broad- 

 ish bars on the abdomen and thigh coverts. 



Adult, head, nape, and cheek stripe, bright rufous ; the rest of 

 the plumage above fine pale grey; quills dark slaty; tail light grey, 

 with a broad black terminal band, white tipped at the end ; 

 beneath white, unspotted to the breast, all the rest of the lower 

 parts with narrow cross bands of dusky grey; quills with the inner 

 webs banded dusky and whitish ; tail with narrow cross bars, con- 

 spicuous beneath; not seen above ; cere, orbitar skin, and legs, 

 bright yellow. 



