100 
NATURAL HISTOItV 
MERLIN. 
The Merlin is the least of all the hawk 
or falcon kind, and not much larger than a 
thrush, yetdisplays such a degree of courage 
as to render him formidable even to birds ten 
times his size. The Merlin is one of the 
best birds the falconers of the present day 
use for hawking ; as their courage is gene- 
rally such, that no bird, which is not very 
much above their own size, can terrify them: 
their swiftness is so great, that scarce any 
bird can escape them ; and their docility so 
remarkable, that they obey not only the com- 
mands, but the signs of their masters. 
In the male bird, the feathers on the rump 
ore blue ; a note by which, as well as by 
his size, the falconers easily discover the sex 
of the bird. 
