THE SPARROW-HAWK— THE FALCON. 109 



That, to Nature, to Truth, and to Science, devote, 

 My Harp may respond with a musical note ; — 



Two other varieties : one spotted with white, the other entirely 

 white. It is very bold, and preys on poultry, pigeons, part- 

 ridges, &c. Sometimes tamed and flies about gardens ; it has 

 been also taught to catch larks. The male of this species was 

 formerly called a musket. 



The Gyrfulco, or Brown Gerfalcon, inhabits Europe, and 

 preys on cranes and pigeons. The Lannarius i or Lanner, is the 

 size of the Buzzard ; three varieties. Inhabits England, Eu- 

 rope, and Tartary. Buildsin low trees; migrates: much es- 

 teemed in falconry. The Vespertinus, or Ingrian Falcon, in- 

 habits Ingria, Russia, and Siberia; size of a pigeon; builds on 

 trees, or takes possession of a magpie's nest; preys on quails ; 

 flies abroad chiefly in the evening or at night. The Subbuteo 

 or Hobby, inhabits England, Europe, and Siberia ; back brown, 

 belly palish, with oblong brown spots ; twelve inches long; 

 two varieties ; preys on larks. The (Esolon, or Merlin, in- 

 habits Europe ; body above bluish ash, with rusty spots and 

 stripes ; beneath, yellowish white with oblong spots ; length 

 twelve inches. Migrates southerly on the approach of winter ; 

 often seen in England. Three other varieties found in the 

 West Indies, or New York. The Pumilius, or Tiny Falcon, 

 has the body brown-ash, beneath whitish, with blackish bars. 

 Said to be the smallest of the genus, being hardly six inches 

 long ; inhabits Cayenne ; but the Cerulescens, a native of Java, 

 described by Dr. Horsfield, and a specimen of which is in 

 the East India House Museum, is, 1 believe, still smaller. 



The Communis, Common Falcon, Yearly Falcon, Aged Falcon, 

 or Falcon Gentle, of which there are above ten varieties, inha- 

 bits Europe and North America, some of its varieties, China, 

 Hudson's Bay, and India. The general colour of the plumage 

 is brown, the feathers edged with rusty ; body beneath white, 

 irregularly marked with brown ; the tail with darker transverse 



