MARSH HARRIER. 387 



I think, therefore, there can be no reasonable doubt as to the 

 identity of these grey-tailed individuals with the rest. 



Remarks. — The Marsh Harrier, it thus appears, is dark 

 coloured when young, and gradually becomes lighter as it ad- 

 vances in age. This, I think, is the general rule with respect 

 to the falconine birds, although there are exceptions. The pre- 

 sent species, as I have said, exhibits a considerable affinity to 

 the Buzzards, and thus, in the eyes of those who prefer a cir- 

 cular arrangement, may with propriety be placed last in the 

 series. 



We have now examined all the British species of the family 

 of Falconinre, of several of which I have been enabled to give 

 a pretty full account. Some of them, however, have not yet 

 been well described ; and therefore an account of their habits 

 is a great desideratum, the supplying of which by any observers 

 who have had opportunities of stiulying them, would be highly 

 gratifying to me, wliicli I cannot conceive to be of much im- 

 portance to any other than a very benevolent person, and use- 

 ful to science, which might induce even a very selfish one to 

 communicate his observations. 



