THE SrARROW-IIAWK— THE FALCON. 109 



That, to Nature, to Truth, and to Science, devote, 

 My Harp may respond with a musical note ; — 



Two other varieties : one spotted with white, the other entirely 

 white. It is very bold, and preys on poultry, pigeons, part- 

 ridges, &c. Sometimes tamed and flies about gardens ; it has 

 been also taught to catch larks. The male of this species was 

 formerly called a musket. 



The Gtjrfulco, or Brown G\rfalcon, inhabits Europe, and 

 preys on cranes and pigeons. The Lannarius, or Lanner, is the 

 size of the Buzzard ; three varieties. Inhabits England, Eu- 

 rope, and Tartary. Builds in low trees; migrates: much es- 

 teemed in falconry. The Vespertinus, or Ingrian Falcon, in- 

 habits Inirria, Russia, and Siberia; size of a pigeon ; builds on 

 trees, or takes possession of a magpie's nest ; preys on quails ; 

 flies abroad chiefly in the evening or at night. The Subbuteo 

 or Hobby, inhabits England, Europe, and Siberia ; back brown, 

 belly palish, with oblong brown spots; twelve inches long; 

 two varieties ; preys on larks. The (Esoloiit or Merlin, in- 

 habits Europe ; body above bluish ash, with rusty spots and 

 stripes ; beneath, yellowish white with oblong spots ; length 

 twelve inches. Migrates southerly on the approach of winter ; 

 often seen in England. Three other varieties found in the 

 West Indies, or New York. The Pumilius, or Tiny Falcon, 

 has the body brown ash, beneath whitish, with blackish bars. 

 Said to be the smallest of the genus, being hardly six inches 

 long ; inhabits Cayenne ; but the Cerulescens, a native of Java, 

 described by Ur. Horsfield, and a specimen of which is in 

 the East India House Museum, is, I believe, still smaller. 



The Communis^ Common Falcon, Yearly Falcon, Aged Falcon, 

 or Falcon Gentle, of which there are above ten varieties, inha- 

 bits Europe and North America, some of its varieties, China, 

 Hudson's Bay, and India. The general colour of the plumage 

 is brown, the feathers edged with rusty ; body beneath white, 

 irregularly marked with brown ; the tail with darker transverse 



