THE jVEELiy^ 99 



a slirill warning cry at the approach of danger. The flight 

 of this handsome litlle falcon is rapid and graceful; it 

 usually flies low, and skniis over the open ground without 

 any apparent effort. 



The Merlin does not pursue the tactics of the laro-er 

 falcons when seeking to secure a meaj. It very seldom 

 rises above its pre^ to swoop down upon it, but simply 

 chase£^ it,, following every double, ^^^jst, and turn of the 

 flying quarry with a pers^tency and ardour that almost 

 invariably meets with success. 



There is not the disparity between the relative sizes of the 

 sexes when young which may be noticed in the Falconidte 

 generally, but the female has a trifling advantage. 



The le ngth of the Mer[in seldom exceeds twelve inches ; 

 iris dark brown ; forehead and sides of the head greyish- 

 white, the latter lined with black; over the ej^e is a light 

 band, margined beneath with black ; neck dull yellowish- 

 red, with a ring of reddish-brown, sjjotted or streaked with 

 black ; a few black streaks descend from the corners of 

 the beak ; chin and throat white or greyish-white ; breast 

 dull yellowish-red ; back deep greyish-blue, growing lighter 

 towards the tail, the feathers being streaked in the centre 

 -with black ; greater and lesser wing-coverts are bluish- 

 grey; under wing-coverts yellowish-white, or white, with 

 dusky spots and streaks ; the tail is bluish-grey, with 

 dark bands and tipped with white ; it is about five inches 

 long; legs yellow, and feathered about one-third down; 

 toes yellow, claws black. The plumage of the female 

 varies from that of the male, being of a more uniform 

 appearance ; but assumes more resemblance to the male as 

 the bird grows older. When first hatched the young are 

 covered with a soft whitish down ; after leaving the nest 



