144 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 



25. Marsh-Harrier, Circus ceruginosus (Linn.) 



The Marsh-Harrier was the most numerous Hawk near 

 Damietta, the Kestrel always excepted. On the plain of 

 Gebel Silsilis they were still commoner, and we shot old 

 and young in about equal proportions. They are not at all 

 shy, but require large shot to bring them down. They fly 

 at no great altitude, and often alight on the ground, but not 

 on trees I believe. Some monstrous ticks had fastened on 

 the face of one which was shot. I have several times ob- 

 served them on sand banks. None of the females had the 

 grey on the wings and tail peculiar to the adult male. 



26. Hen-Harrier, Circus cyaneus (Linn.) 



I cannot say anything about the distribution of this. 

 Hawk; at the same time I have not the least doubt but 

 that we saw it* 



27. Swainson's Harrier, Circus macrurus (S. G. Gmelin). 



I seldom went out without seeing a Swainson's Harrier 

 or two beating low over the fields, yet we only shot three. 

 Females were commoner than adult males, but not very 

 much so. In England Harriers are not considered to perch 

 upon trees,t but I have seen this species do so several times 

 in Egypt. 



*' I have seen Hen-Harriers in Durham, and also the Marsh-Harrier, 

 quartering the meadows at Teesmouth hke a well-trained dog, but both 

 are decidedly rare there. 



t In Hunt's "British Ornithology" there is mention of a Marsh 

 Harrier's nest upon a tree, on the authority of Archdeacon Glover of 

 Southrepps, and it would appear that this is not unique, (cf. Yarrell, 

 B.B., fourth edition, I., 130.) 



