@var{fringe} is either the symbol @code{left-fringe} or
@code{right-fringe}. @var{bitmap} is a symbol identifying the bitmap
to display. The optional @var{face} names a face whose foreground and
-background colors are to be used to display the bitmap; this face is
-automatically merged with the @code{fringe} face. If @var{face} is
-omitted, that means to use the @code{default} face.
+background colors are to be used to display the bitmap, using the
+attributes of the @code{fringe} face for colors that @var{face} didn't
+specify. If @var{face} is omitted, that means to use the attributes
+of the @code{default} face for the colors which the @code{fringe} face
+didn't specify.
For instance, to display an arrow in the left fringe, using the
@code{warning} face, you could say something like: