Clafs IL M E R L I N. 15^ 



XIX. The MERLIN*. 



L'Efmerillon. Belon a<v. \\%, Ralifyn. av. 15. 



w^falon. Gefmraij, A^\. L'EmeriUon. Brijfon av. 1. o^^z, 



Merlina Turneri. Smerlio, o Smeriglio. Zorf«x;/«i/. 

 Smerlus, Smerillas, Aldr. m). i. tab. 18. ig. 



187. Br. Zool 70. plate A. 12^ 

 Wih orn, 85. 



THE Merlin weighs near five ounces and a half: Defer, 

 its length is twelve inches, its breadth twenty- 

 five. The bill is of a bluifh lead color : the cere of 

 a lemon color : the irides very dark, almoft black : 

 the head is ferruginous, and each feather is marked 

 with a bluifh black flreak along the fhaft : the back 

 and wings are of a deep bluiOi afh color, adorned 

 with ferruginous flreaks and fpots, and edged with 

 the fame : the quil feathers are almoft black, marked 

 with reddiih fpots : the under coverts of the wings 

 brown, beautifully marked with round white fpots : 

 the tail is five inches long, crofTed with alternate 

 bars of dusky and reddifh clay color : on fome of the 

 the feathers of the fame bird are thirteen, on fome 

 fifteen : the breaft and belly are of a yellowifli v/hite, 

 marked v^ith oblong brown fpots pointing down- 

 wards : the legs yellow : the wings when clofed 

 reach within an inch and a half of the end of the 

 tail. This and the preceding kind were often 

 trained for hawking : and this fpecies, fmail as it is, 

 was inferior to none in point of fpirit : it was ufed 

 for taking partridges, which it would kill by a fingle 



* Merglarias j quia merulaj infeflatur. Skinnsr, 



M ilfokc 



