Merlin. RAPTORES. FALCO. 53 



at the rapidity of its evolutions, and the certainty of its aim, 

 as it never failed in securing and bearing off its victim, even 

 though chosen from the centre of the flock. 



Plate 18. represents the adult male in the natural size. 



Bill bluish-grey, the tip black ; strong, with the sides con- General 

 \ex, and the tooth prominent. Crown of the head, and ^jqjj 

 upper parts of the body bluish, or pearl- grey ; the shafts ^^^^^ bird, 

 of the feathers being black. Tail bluish-grey, with a 

 broad black bar near the end, which is white. Chin 

 white. 



Inferior parts buff-orange, with oblong, drop-shaped, 

 blackish-brown spots. Under surface of the interior 

 webs of the quill-feathers barred with white. Cere, legs, 

 and eye-orbits yellow. Irides generally brown. 



Plate 18*. A female bird. Natural size. 



Crown of the head dusky brown, streaked with black. Female 

 Nape of the neck, and streak over the eyes white, spot- 

 ted with bro^vn. Back and scapulars brown, tinged 

 with grey ; the feathers edged, and spotted with reddish- 

 brown. Quills brownish-black, spotted or barred with 

 reddish-brown. The two first quills having their inner 

 webs abruptly and very deeply notched ; the second and 

 third with their outer webs strongly sinuated. The 

 first quill rather shorter than the fourth, the second 

 and third of equal length. Under wing-coverts brown- 

 ish-orange, spotted with white. Throat white. Breast 

 and under parts yellowish- white, with broad, oblong, 

 brown streaks. Tail dusky, with seven or eight yel- 

 lowish-white, or pale reddish-brown bars. 



The young are similar in plumage to the female bird. 



