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THE MERLIN. 
Falco (Esalon Willoughby. 
PLATE VI. 
Falco aasalon, Willoughby , Ray, Sfc Merlin of most Brit, 
authors Stone Falcon of Latham Montague, App. 
to Supp. Orn. Diet, the male. 
This beautiful little Falcon has considerable 
resemblance to the Peregrine, except in stature; 
but though less, its proportions are all most symme- 
trical, and the colours of the plumage, though 
somewhat similarly distributed, are more brilliant 
and better marked ; upon the whole, it may be 
considered as one of our handsomest Raptorial 
birds. In the change of plumage it is also allied, 
and a variety of synonims have in consequence 
been applied. Formerly it was trained to the 
chase, and used to hawk for quails, snipes, and 
larks, and the flight in pursuit of the two latter 
generally afforded the best sport in the estimation 
of the falconer. In pursuit of prey, the Merlin 
does not often mount above it and rush down, as 
we have generally seen the Peregrine, but at once 
gives chase, closely following the victim through 
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