522 BIRDS. RAPACIOUS. falcons; 



difagreement in the defcriptions of Mr Latham and Dr Gmelin ; the former naturalift fays the bo- 

 dy is blackifli, the back and bafe of the tail being marked with abrupt whitifh ftreaks ; the breaft is 

 tawny ; the thighs are rufty ; the belly is blackifli, with ftreaks of a pale colour, like thofe on the 

 back ; the tail has neither fpots nor ftreaks from its middle to the tip. 



"O $. Smaller Surinam Hobby. — F. aurantius minor. 



Is fmaller than the former ; the ftreaks on the body are more dufky ; the chin is white, 

 and the throat is orange coloured. Lath. ind. orn. i. 48. n. 117. p. Syn. fup. 28. 



This variety is only ten inches long. 



SS7 y. Spotted Surinam Hobby. — F. aurantius maculatus. 



The legs are tawny; the upper parts of the body are bluilh black, with bluifh ftreaks..; 

 the under parts of the body are ftreaked with white ; the belly, ventlet, and thighs, 

 are reddhh. Lath. ind. orn. i. 48. n. 117. y. Syn. fup. 29. 2d defer. 



This variety is of the fame fize with the former ; the chin and throat are reddifh, with a white 

 fpot in the middle. 



s §3 78. Spot- tailed Hobby. — 1 16. Falco plumbeus. 1 i 7. 



The cere is dufky; the legs are yellow; the body is afh coloured, the upper part of the 

 back being of a blackifh leaden colour ; the inner webs of the tail quills have each 

 three white fpots. 

 F. plumbeus. Lath. ind. orn. i. 49. n. 11 8. — Spotted-tailed Hobby. Lath. fyn. i. 106. n. 92. 



Inhabits Cayenne. — This fpecies is about the fize of the Sparrow Hawk : The bill and claws are 

 black ; the head and neck are alh coloured ; the legs are fhort. 



189 79. Common Merlin. — 117. Falco Aefahn. 118. 



The cere and legs are yellow ; the head is rufty ; the upper part of the body is bluifli 

 afh, with rufty fpots and ftreaks ; the under parts are yellowifh white with oblong 

 fpots. 



F. Aefalon. Lath. ind. orn.- i. 49. n. 119. — Aefalon. Briff. orn. in. n. 23. Raj. av. ij. 

 n. 15. — Accipiter Smerillus, Ger. orn. i. 51. t. 18. 19. — Kleinfter roth falk. Frifch, av. t. 89. — 

 Merlin. Brit. zool. n. 63. Will. orn. 85. t. 3. Lewin, brit. b. i.-t. 22. Lath. fyn. i. 106. n. 93. 

 fup. 29. 



Inhabits Europe, and is found in Britain. — This fpecks breeds in the northern parts, and retires 

 to the more fouthern regions on the approach of winter; it is about the fize of a Blackbird in the bo- 

 dy, and meafures a foot in length : The bill is bluifli, but variable in its fliade ; the irides are dufky; 

 the tail has from eight to fifteen tranfverfe bars, or ftreaks, alternately dufky and reddifli ; the claws 

 are black : The eggs are rounded, and. of a brown-red colour. 



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