HARKIERS — VARIETY OF PLUMAGE. 89 



ing at perfection ; tlie upper parts being then 

 generally of a bluish grey, and the lower white ; 

 Montagus bird, however, is distinguished not 

 only by its lighter and more elongated form and 

 tern-like flight, but by a dark belt across the se- 

 condaries, and several ferruginous bars on the 

 under wing-coverts. The females are respectively 

 larger than the males, of a brown colour, varied 

 less or more with several shades of yellowish red, 

 the longitudinal spots or streaks on the lower 

 paiis becoming more narrow and distinct, and 

 the ground of a lighter tint, as they advance to- 

 wards maturity. The young of the year resemble 

 the females, but the plumage is less streaked of 

 variegated. The male of the marsh harrier or 

 moor buzzard, although, like others of the genus, 

 subject to a change which may be dated from the 

 first autumnal moult, yet never arrives at that 

 gull-like state of plumage characteristic of the 

 other two species ; the wings and tail alone, even 

 in very old birds, assuming the bluish grey hu€, 

 the head and throat being whitish, and the re- 

 maining portion of the body presenting diflferent 

 shades of dark and ferruginous brown. 



Although formerly of common occurrence on 

 the uncultivated heaths of this county, many of 

 which still continue in their primasval state, the 

 marsh harrier is now one of the rarest of our 



