382 EcKSTORM, Description of the Adult Black Merlin. Fq"!' 



A DESCRIPTION OF THE ADULT BLACK MERLIN 

 {FALCO COLUMBARIUS SUCK LEVI). 



BY FANNIE HARDY ECKSTORM. 



Although the young of the Black Merlin was described by Mr. 

 Robert Ridgvvay twenty-nine years ago and adult specimens have 

 been in collections for upwards of twenty years, by some inadver- 

 tency no description of the adult seems ever to have appeared in 

 print. The specimen in my father's collection was declared by no 

 less an authority than Major Charles E. Bendire, who gives at 

 length the story of its capture in his ' Life Histories of North 

 American Birds ' (Vol. I, p. 201), to be the finest specimen he ever 

 saw, and because he indicated its fitness to stand as the type of the 

 male in perfect breeding plumage, I have undertaken to supply 

 the deficiency in description. 



In his book Major Bendire characterizes the bird as "a very 

 handsome adult specimen," and in a letter written shortly after its 

 capture he again mentions it. As contributing to the history of 

 the specimen but quite as much because it gives to those who did 

 not know him personally some notion of Major Bendire's gener- 

 osity and his extreme disinclination to leave any room for thanks, 

 no matter what trouble he was at, the whole letter may be quoted. 



"Fort Klamath, Oregon, May 13, 1SS3. 

 "My dear Mr. Hardy: — 



Your box of birds left Linkville, Oregon, on the loth inst. Linkville 

 is the nearest express office from here. I think the charges on it will be 

 between 7 and 8 dollars, something over 50 cts. per pound. Have just 

 received jour letter of the 30th ult. It is still wintry here, it has been 

 snowing more or less all day. Robins and Melospizas are just com- 

 mencing to lay, and other birds will follow I hope in a few days. I 

 shall give up making skins now for awliile. I shot a beautiful $ adult 

 j^salon columbarius sttckleyi a couple of days ago which I consider one 

 of the best finds I have made here. Much to my surprise I find the 

 California Jay here. I would not have believed it but I shot one of the 

 birds and have it now. Hope to hear that the skins arrived in good order. 



Very truly, 



Chs. E. Bendire." 



