ISO LOST AND VANISHING BIRDS 



very noses of the dogs has often been remarked. 

 The food of this Harrier is largely composed of 

 small mammals (such as mice, moles, young rabbits), 

 frogs, and small or weakly birds. It is also a 

 great robber of eggs and nestlings, most adept 

 at finding nests and spoiling them of their con- 

 tents. It is said also to eat fish. The note of 

 the female of this Harrier is described by 

 Naumann as a clear pitz and 2:)eep; that of the 

 male as koi or kai. The Marsh Harriers that 

 breed in England and Ireland are probably 

 residents. 



The Marsh Harrier, for a raptorial bird, is a 

 somewhat late breeder, its eggs not being laid 

 before May in this country, but in more southern 

 haunts in March. The bird is far too rare in the 

 British Islands to breed gregariously ; but in 

 Spain, where it is very abundant, Irby records 

 as many as twenty nests within three hundred 

 yards of each other. Montagu states that he has 

 found the nest of this Harrier in a tree, but the 

 usual place is upon the ground amongst the reeds 

 or even in shallow water ; and it is said a deserted 

 nest of a Coot or Moorhen is sometimes utilised. 

 Seebohm records a large nest absolutely floating 

 amongst the reeds in water several feet in depth. 



