192 BIRDS OF EUROPE AND NORTH AFRICA 



((•) There is also a melanistic form, all dark brown. 



Inner webs of quills and tail in all phases grey or white ; com- 

 binations of plumages (a) and ((^) also occur. Bill blackish horn. 

 Cere and feet yellow. Iris brown to yellowish brown. Wing 

 (^ 425-455, ? 440-500. Tarsus 83-86. Bill 30-33. Tail 230-270. 



Breeds. — Greece, Asia Minor and Palestine, Steppes of S. 

 Russia east of Don north to Orenburg and Caspian Steppes, 

 also W. and C. Asia. Occurs on passage Rumania, Turkey, and 

 Caucasus ; in winter in Egypt and N.E. Africa south to White 

 and Blue Niles, also in India. Rare visitor to Central Europe. 



B. ferox cirtensis (Levaillant), (a) Adult. Smaller-and redder 

 than "ferox" ; above brown with rufous margins ; tail and thighs 

 uniform pale cinnamon, former sometimes with white on inner 

 webs ; beneath varying from buffy white to deep rufous with dark 

 shaft lines, under wing coverts and axillaries rufous. 



(d) Tail barred ; underparts white to creamy buff with broad 

 dark streaks and sometimes a dark band across abdomen, under 

 wing coverts and axillaries white, creamy or partly rufous. Wing 

 S 360-380, ? 380-400. Tarsus 75-85. Tail 205-220 (H.). 



Young in first plumage are much redder, almost chestnut 

 throughout. 



Breeds. — N.W. Africa, Morocco to Tunis. Probably largely 

 resident. 



All races of "ferox"" are distinguishable from those of "buteo" 

 by their more powerful bills and feet. 



Circus. 



Birds of long and slender form with slight ruff as in Owls. 

 Nostrils longitudinal : tail long ; legs long, slender, upper 

 half of tarsus feathered in front, claws very sharp. Partial 

 to marshy localities, quartering ground for prey of small 

 mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, eggs, etc. ; nest on ground ; 

 eggs bluish white, occasionally with a few rufous spots. 



Circus aaruginosus geruginosus (L.). Marsh-Harrier. 

 Fr. Busard harpaye ; Ger. Rohrweihe ; Ital. Albanella ; Swed. 

 Sumphok. 



