Descriptive List of the Common Birds 



154. Circus cineraceus : Montagu's Harrier. 

 (F. 1234), (J. 52), ( + IV.) 



155. Circus cyaneus : The Hen Harrier. 

 (F. 1235), (J. so), (-V.) 



156. Circus melanoleucus : The Pied Har- 

 rier. (F. 1236), (J. 53), ( + IV.) 



157. Circus ^ruginosus : The Marsh Harrier. 

 (F. 1237), (J. 54), (-V.) 



I shall not attempt to describe these birds, 

 as, although it may be possible to tell the male 

 birds apart, the hens are so alike that to distin- 

 guish them is no easy matter. The ordinary 

 man will doubtless be satisfied to call them all 

 harriers. 



Harriers are cold-weather visitors to India. 

 They are striking-looking birds with long wings. 

 They fly low, only a few inches above the 

 level of the ground, ever on the look out for a 

 lizard, a mouse, an insect, or even a small bird. 

 They are larger than crows and smaller than 

 kites. They hunt over fields and marshes, 

 and are not seen in towns, but those who shoot 

 must be familiar with them. (lUus. B. B., 

 p. 15.) 



158. Astur badius : The Shikra. (F.12 44), 



a. 23)>(+ni.) 



This is one of the most familiar birds of prey. 

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