HARRIER 



409 



to the particular species which is the Falco cyaneus of Linnaeus and 

 the Circus cyanms of modern ornithologists. 



On the wing Harriers have much resemblance to Buzzards, using 

 the same flapping stroke of the pinions, and wheeling or sailing 

 aloft as they fly. One European species indeed, C. s&ruginosus, 

 though called in books the Marsh-Harrier, is far more commonly 

 known in Ensrland and Ireland as the Moor - Buzzard. But 

 Harriers are not, like Buzzards, arboreal in their habits, and always 

 aff"ect open country, generally, though not invariably, preferring 

 marshy or fenny districts, for snakes and frogs form a great part of 

 their ordinary food. On the ground their carriage is utterly unlike 

 that of a Buzzard, and their long wings and legs render it easy to 



Hen-Harrier (Male and Female). 



distinguish the two groups when taken in the hand. All the 

 species also have a more or less well-developed ruff" or frill of small 

 thick-set feathers surrounding the lower part of the head, nearly like 

 that seen in Owls, and accordingly many systematists consider that 

 the genus Circus, though undoubtedly belonging to the Falconidai, 

 connects that Family with the Striges. No osteological affinity, 

 however, can be established between the Harriers and any section 

 of the Owls, and the superficial resemblance will have to be 

 explained in some other way. Harriers are found almost all over 

 the world,^ and fifteen species are recognized by Dr. Sharpe [Cat. 

 B. Br. Mus. i. pp. 50-73). In most if not all the Harriers the sexes 



1 The distribution of the various species is remarkable, while the range of 

 some is exceedingly wide, that of others is very limited— C. maillar^'i, for 

 instance, seems to be confined to the island of Reunion (Bourbon). 



