function MerkleBlock(arg) {
  /* jshint maxstatements: 18 */

  if (!(this instanceof MerkleBlock)) {
    return new MerkleBlock(arg);
  }

  var info = {};
  if (BufferUtil.isBuffer(arg)) {
    info = MerkleBlock._fromBufferReader(BufferReader(arg));
  } else if (_.isObject(arg)) {
    var header;
    if(arg.header instanceof BlockHeader) {
      header = arg.header;
    } else {
      header = BlockHeader.fromObject(arg.header);
    }
    info = {
      /**
       * @name MerkleBlock#header
       * @type {BlockHeader}
       */
      header: header,
      /**
       * @name MerkleBlock#numTransactions
       * @type {Number}
       */
      numTransactions: arg.numTransactions,
      /**
       * @name MerkleBlock#hashes
       * @type {String[]}
       */
      hashes: arg.hashes,
      /**
       * @name MerkleBlock#flags
       * @type {Number[]}
       */
      flags: arg.flags
    };
  } else {
    throw new TypeError('Unrecognized argument for MerkleBlock');
  }
  _.extend(this,info);
  this._flagBitsUsed = 0;
  this._hashesUsed = 0;

  return this;
}
Instantiate a MerkleBlock from a Buffer, JSON object, or Object with
the properties of the Block

@param {*} - A Buffer, JSON string, or Object representing a MerkleBlock
@returns {MerkleBlock}
@constructor