FALCON. 135 



and Baraba.* INI. Daudin says, they frequent that part of France 

 contigvious to Switzerland, being met with about Dole and Mont- 

 Jura ; and adds, that tlie male and female are both equal in size. 



Both this and the Sparrow-hawk have been trained for 

 hawking ; and this species, 3Ir. Pennant observes, was inferior to 

 none in spirit; was used for taking partiidges, wliich it would 

 kill by a single stoke on the neck. 



A. — iEsalon Antillarum, Bris. i. 385. Id. 8vo. iii. Gm. Lin. i. 284. Shaw's Zool. 



vii. 98. 

 Caribbee Merlin, Gen. Si/n. i. 108: 



Tliis is very little bigger than a thrush ; above rufous spotted 

 with black ; beneath white with longish spots of black. 



Inhabits the Caribbee Islands, called there Grygry, from its 

 crj^ — said to prey chiefly on lizards and grasshoppers, now and 

 then on very young chickens. 



B. — Falco Aucupum, Ind.Ori>.\. p.49. y. Gm. Lin. \. 284. 

 Esmerillon des Fauconniers, iJif/l i. 288. pi. 9. PI. enl. 468. 

 Falconer's Merlin, Gen. Si/n. i. 109. 93. C. 



Tliis is said by Buffon to be like the Hobby, but with shorter 

 wings, and more resembling the Stone Falcon, both as to size, length, 

 colour, &c. so as to make it doubtful whether these two may not be 

 varieties ; also that both sexes are alike in size. He adds, that it is a 

 very com'ageous bird, attacking not only larks, but quails and 

 partridges — yet this author quotes Br. Zool. fol. A. 12. for a figure, 

 proving this and Mr. Pennant's Merlin to be the same. In short, to 

 any one who reads the account in the Hist, ties Ois. the whole seems 

 to be confused, arising probably from individuals varying in plumage, 

 and not being a common bird. 



* Pallas MS. 



