MARSH HARRIER. 385 



chocolate-brown ; but many of the feathers on the fore-neck 

 and breast are yellowish-white, with brown central streaks. 



Length to end of tail 24? inches, extent of wings 52 ; wing 

 from flexure 10/^ ; tail 9/3 ; bill along the ridge 1^^^ ; tar- 

 sus 3? ; first toe I S , its claw 1 /^ ; second toe 1, its claw 1/| ; 

 third toe l{^, its claw {i ; fourth toe H, its claw jg. 



Variations. — Individuals coloured nearly as above, differ 

 considerably in the extent of the yellowish or reddish-white on 

 the head, neck, back, and wings, and in the tints of the tail 

 and wings, which sometimes approach to grey. Very old birds 

 have the secondary quills and tail ash-grey ; but I have not 

 seen a British specimen so coloured. 



Habits. — In Scotland, the ISIarsh Harrier is of much less fre- 

 quent occurrence than the Ring-tailed. I have once met with 

 it in the Island of Harris, but it must be very rare in the 

 northern and middle divisions. Dr Neill informs me that it 

 frequents the rabbit-links of Gulan, in East Lothian, and that 

 he once had an adult female which was caught there in a trap 

 and preserved alive by Mr Yule of Luffness Mill, who sent it 

 to him. None of the bird-stuffers in Edinburgh have had a 

 specimen for at least five years back. It appears to be some- 

 what more numerous in the southern counties of Scotland, and 

 is said to occur in most parts of England, being more frequently 

 met with however in low and marshy tracts. According to 

 Montagu, " it is the most common of the falcon tribe about 

 the sandy flats on the coast of Caermarthenshire, where it preys 

 upon young rabbits." He mentions his having once seen nine 

 individuals feeding on the carcass of a sheep. Its food is said 

 to consist of water-fowl, young ducks in particular, water-rats, 

 frogs, lizards, fish, and insects. It flies low, skimming along 

 in the manner of the common species, seldom pursues a bird 

 in open flight, but pounces upon its prey when on the ground. 

 " In the breeding season,"" as Montagu informs us, " when the 

 female is sittinji, the male will soar to a considerable heiofht, 

 and remain suspended on wing for a great length of time. The 

 nest is most frequently made on the ground, amongst short 



VOL. III. c c 



