89 
ship to &. Peregrinus, and is likewise a more subtropical species, 
with a comparatively limited range of distribution. Compare 
also the African Tinnunculus Rupicolus with T. Alaudarius, and 
Athene Castanotus of Ceylon with A. Radiatus.” 
Dr. Stoliczka remarks, that this species “is not common in 
the forest about Kotegurh, and Kooloo, and that, during the 
summer, it seems to migrate further north.” 
Mr. R. Thompson, however, a very accurate field naturalist, 
sends me the following notes : 
“These birds regularly resort to the dense forests, on the 
lower ranges of Kumaon and Gurhwal, about April. In June, 
I watched a-female bearing a small bird away, but could not 
follow where she took it to. I inferred from this, that she must 
have had a nest of fledged young ones, as there were lots of fine 
trees standing close to where she passed me, and where she 
might have stopped to pluck her quarry. Later observations, 
confirm that the bird breeds about April, in our lofty and 
dense forests. I have seen a pair constantly hovering in the 
valley of Dhumola ; a place of only about 2500 feet elevation. 
“T lately saw, in February last, a pair sitting on a dead tree, 
in the Kumaon valley, Kotridhoon, Gurhwal. They were both 
screaming as most Falcons do when pairing.” 
No. 15. Lithofalco QGtsalon Get. 
THE MERLIN. 
Of the breeding of this species, in India, we have as yet no 
detailed accounts. Dr. Jerdon, in a recent note to me, remarks 
that “the Merlin is by no means rare in the plains of the Pun- 
jab, during the cold weather, and I have had trained ones in my 
possession. It is chiefly flown at the Hoopoe. 
“One of my falconers caught one near Delhi. It is called 
Regi and Retul turunti in the Punjab, and Dooreli by Hindu- 
stanees, which name I have, in my work, applied to the Hobby.” 
About Umritsur it is commonly captured and sold, by native 
huntsmen, for a very small price. It comes down, I am in- 
formed, in numbers into the Peshawur Valley, and is always to 
be met with, early in the year, in the Salt Range, it is therefore 
highly probable, that it breeds in Cashmere, and the neighbour- 
ing regions of the Himalayahs. 
Mr. Yarrell says, “ The Merlin makes its scanty nest on the 
ground, laying fowr or five eggs, measuring one inch, seven 
