Bii'ds of Prey. \ 1 3 



has a notch or indentation on the outer web of the lifth primary, this notch 

 not being found in Montagu's Harrier. This species no longer nests in England, 

 but is still found breeding in Northern Scotland and a few counties in Ireland. 

 Its breeding-range extends throughout Central and Northern Europe across 

 Siberia to Japan, and it winters in Southern Europe, the Indian Peninsula, and 

 Chma. The food of the Hen-Harner is varied, and consists of small rodents, 

 lizards, frogs, insects, and also small birds, as well as their nestlings and eggs. The 

 nest is placed on the ground, generally in a marshy situation, and the eggs are from 

 four to six in number, bluish white m colour, and from one and-three-quarters to two 

 inches in length. 



This is a smaller and more slightly built bird than the foregoing 



species, and is recognised by the longitudinal rufous streaks on 



HARRIER. , ' , ,■ , Tu c , ■ £c . 



the under parts and thighs. 1 he wmg-iormula is surncient to 

 (Circus pygargus.) ' . 



distinguish the females and young birds from the corresponding 

 plumages of the Hen-Harrier (see above). The range of Montagu's Harrier is not 

 so extensive as that of the latter species, as it does not range so far north on the 

 Continent, nor does it extend into Eastern Siberia. It has bred in several counties 

 of England and Wales, and scarcely a year passes without its nest being found in 

 some part of our area, but at present it has only occurred accidentally in Ireland. 

 In habits the present species resembles the Hen-Harrier, and like that bird it devours 

 a number of eggs. The nest consists of a hollow in the ground, lined with dry- 

 grass. The eggs are bluish-white, from four to six in number, and measure 

 about one-and-three-quarter inches in length. 



This is the largest of the three British species of Harrier, 



and is of a much darker tvpe ot plumage than the Hen-Harrier 



M.\RSH-HARRIER. ,, . ,, • -.-'u i • u i .■ i r j i 



or Montagu s Harrier. 1 he male is a handsome bird oi a dark 

 \Ctrcus uriigtnosits.) 



rufous brown, with a grey tail, and a considerable amount 

 of bluish ashy on the wing-coverts and quills ; the under surface is creamy bufi", 

 streaked with brown, and the thighs and abdomen are rufous. The female is a 

 brown bird with a creamy buff crown, and the young birds are also brown with the 

 head at first uniform like the back. 



Although the Marsh-Harrier still nests in certain districts in Ireland, it has 

 become extinct as a breeding bird in England, where it used to be not uncommon 

 in the fen-country. It is found thoughout Europe and as far east as Central 

 Asia. Its food resembles that of the Harriers already mentioned, but it is a 

 great egg-robber, and devours also numbers of chickens in the countries where 

 it is abundant. In Southern Spain it nests in colonies, and the nest is 

 generally placed on the ground in a reed-bed, the old nest of a Coot or Moorhen 

 being sometimes utilized. The eggs are from three to six in number, pale bluish 

 white, with scarcelv any markings of pale brown : the lining in the freshly 

 blown egg is bluish. 



8 



