MERLE ( OP., Fr. surric. from Lat. merula, Blackbird). The minium' European blackbird (Turdns merula1. n thrush closely allied to the American robin. the male of nbieh is uniformly black, while the female is dusky olive-brown above and reddish-brown below. The species is migratory except on the borders of the Mediter ranean, and is one of the most familiar of the summer birds of Europe, coming about all gar dens and roadsides. and making its rude nest in bushes and hedgerows; the eggs are bluish-green freckled with brown. This is one of the finest of European songsters, and is frequently kept in cages and aviaries. The genus is a large one, with numerous species in the Orient, Australia, and South America. Compare BLACKBIRD; Tllnusn.
MERLE D'AUBIGNE,mfirl tItati'nyti'.,1EAN IlExat 11794-1872). A Swiss historian. He was born at Eaux-Vives, a suburb of Geneva. in Swit zerland, August 16, 1794: studied there and at Berlin. and in 1818 became pastor of the French Protestant Church in Hamburg. Thence, after a
residence of five years. he proceeded to Brussels. hi 1831 he returned to Geneva and took part in the institution of a new college for the propa gation of orthodox theology. in which he was appointed professor of Church history. his Mire (le la reformation an seizieme sir-(le gave hint a wide reputation. It is, bows-vet% marred partisanship and misleading and uncritical use of authorities. The first part. that on the Reformation in the time of Luther ( Paris, 1 1835-47, 4 vols.: best ed. of the ling. trans., Edinburgh, 1833, 5 vols., the last volume on the English Reformation), was vastly more popular than the second part, that on the Reformation in the time of Calvin (18(i2-78. 8 vols.: Eng. trans., London, 1863-78, S vols.). Ills other writings, mostly historical, are of less account. Ile died at Geneva. October 21, 1872. Consult his Life by Bonnet (Paris, 1874).