BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 213 



The ]\Iarsh Harrier {Circus cerjigiftosus, Linnaeus) is said 

 to be a probable resident species in the British Islands. 

 Throughout most parts of Europe it is a resident, but does 

 not occur in the extreme north ; it is, however, met with 

 across Asia to Japan, and in many parts of Africa. The 

 adult male has the head and nape white, tinged with 

 yellowish, and with streaks of dark brown ; feathers of 

 back and scapulars, dark brown, the latter shaded ob- 

 scurely with lighter brown ; tail, light grey ; primaries, 

 blackish ; remainder of wings, light grey ; chin and throat, 

 white, tinged with buff; rest of under parts, brown, tinged 

 with rusty; lower part of chest has conspicuous marks of 

 dark brown ; irides, pale yellowish ; bill, bluish-slate ; cere, 

 legs, and feet, yellow. Length, from nineteen to twenty- 

 three inches. 



