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Birds. 
THE MERLIN, (Falco cesalon,) 
Is the smallest British species of the Falcon tribe, and, 
as its name implies, is not very different in size from the 
blackbird ; the word Merlin signifying in French a 
small merle, or blackbird. Though small the Merlin is 
not inferior in courage to any of the other Hawks ; it is 
noted for its boldness and spirit, often attacking and 
killing at one stroke a full-grown partridge or a quail ; 
but it differs from the Falcons and all the other rapacious 
kinds, in the male and female being of equal size. The 
back of this bird is party-coloured, of dark blue and 
brown; the quill feathers of the wings black, with 
