134 FALCON. 



bars of dusky and reddish clay colour,* the end for about an inch 

 black, the very tip white ; throat while ; breast, belly, legs, and 

 thighs ferruginous, sti'eaked with dusky ; vent pale ferruginous ; the 

 wings reach to within 1^ in. of the end of the tail ; legs yellow, 

 claws black. 



The female weighs 9 oz. is 12^ in. long, and 26^ in. broad ; the 

 whole plumage above brown, tinged \^ ith ferruginous ; beneath 

 yellowish white, with broad dusky brown streaks ; tail crossed with 

 five or six narrow bars of yellowish white, tipped with the same. 



The Merlin is only a winter resident witli us, at least in the 

 warmer parts of England, where it arrives in October, and departs 

 in Spring, at which time the Hobby appears. Yet we are assured 

 by Dr. Heysham, that it breeds in Cumberland, and that he has 

 met with two nests, in each of which were four young, placed on 

 the ground, like that of the King-tail ; the egg is of a plain cho- 

 colate brown, and Ij inch in length. The Doctor observed, that 

 these birds vary much in colour. The manner of building also 

 differs, a pair of them having once made use of an old crow's nest 

 near Cowbit, in Lancashire, t 



Several Merlins said to be shot in lat. 65.$ 



This bird is met with on the continent of Europe, but, we 

 believe, no where very common, and shifts its cjuartei's in a greater 

 or less degree every where. M. Bechstein obsetTes, that it is 

 rarely seen in Thuringia in the summer, liut is sufficiently plentiful 

 in the mountainous parts and forests in autumn and winter; that 

 it builds in high trees, la} ing five or six whitish eggs, marked 

 with brown spots ; is observed now and then in the Caspian desart 



* The number seems to be quite uncertain ; for Mr. Pennant mentions a specimen 

 in which there were oply eight ; and Col. Montagu's Merlins had only from five to seven. 

 See Orn. Diet. 



t Gent. Mag. 1766, p. 24. 



J Ross's Voy. p. xlviii. 



