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Birds. 



THE MERLIN, (Fako cesalon,) 



Is the smallest British species of the Falcon tribe, and, 

 as its name implies, is not very different in size from the 

 blackbird ; the word Merlin signifying in French a 

 small merle, or blackbird. Though small the Merlin is 

 not inferior in courage to any of the other Hawks ; it is 

 noted for its boldness and spirit, often attacking and 

 killing at one stroke a full-grown partridge or a quail ; 

 but it differs from the Falcons and all the other rapacious 

 kinds, in the male and female being of equal size. The 

 back of this bird is party-coloured, of dark blue and 

 brown ; the quill feathers of the wings black, with 



