88 MERLIN. 
six; and Temminck five or six. They are bluish white, blotted, 
particularly at the thicker end, with deep reddish brown or 
greenish brown. They vary, however, much in colour. Some 
of the varieties are often similar to those of the Kestrel or 
Peregrine, others to those of the Sparrow-Hawk, but still 
more to those of the Hobby. They are of course, however, 
rather smaller than the former, and also, in this variety, 
browner in colour and more closely spotted with small dots. 
One has been obtained of a rich erimson red, blotted with 
a darker shade of the same. The female sits close at first, 
but if disturbed or alarmed more than once, becomes extremely 
shy. The male takes up a position near at hand on the top 
of some eminence, from whence he can perceive the approach 
of any intruder, of which he gives notice by shrill cries of 
alarm. Montagu says that an instance has been known of a 
Merlin building in a deserted crow’s nest. 
Male; upper parts deep greyish blue, each feather having 
a black central line; the lower parts dull ruddy yellow, with 
longitudinal dark brown oblong spots. Weight, from five to 
six ounces. Length, from eleven inches to a foot, or twelve 
inches and a half; (one described by Montagu was only ten 
inches long.) The male and female differ generally but little 
in size, compared with others of the Hawks. Bull, short, 
strong, pale blue at the base, blackish blue at the tip; cere, 
dull yellow; iris, dark brown; (one shot at Osberton, and 
described by J. S. Foljambe, Esq., had the iris yellow.) Head, 
large, broad, and flat; forehead and sides of the head, greyish ” 
white—the latter lined with black. There is a greyish white 
band over the eye, margined beneath with black. Crown, 
dark bluish or brownish grey, each feather streaked with black 
in the centre. Neck, short and thick-set, dull yellowish red, 
encircled with a reddish brown ring, spotted or streaked with 
black. From the corners of the mouth descend on each side 
a few black streaks, forming, though faintly, the moustache 
borne by all the true Falcons. Nape, banded with pale red; 
chin, white; throat, white, or greyish, or buff white; breast, 
dull yellowish red, sometimes deep orange brown; the shafts 
and a spot towards the end, dark brown. Back, deep greyish 
blue, lighter towards the tail—the feathers streaked in the 
centre with black, as are all the other bluish feathers of the 
back. 
The wings, which when closed, reach from within an inch 
and a quarter to two inches of the end of the tail, and expand 
