HARRIER. 0<^7 



Plumage very soft, generally blended, on tlie back 

 the feathers somewhat distinct. Cere covered on the 

 sides with rather long bristle-tipped feathers, which 

 curve upwards and partially conceal the nostrils ; space 

 between the bill and eye with radiating feathers of 

 the same nature. Feathers of the head of moderate 

 length, rounded ; of the neck bulky ; a distinct ruff of 

 narrow feathers decurved but with the tips recurved 

 extends from behind the eye on each side to the chin ; 

 those of the sides and of the outer part of the tibia; much 

 elongated, of the abdomen downy. Wings long, much 

 rounded ; primary quills ten, the fourth and third long- 

 est, the first about equal to the seventh, the first four 

 cut out on the inner edge towards the end, the second, 

 third, fourth and fifth slightly cut out on the outer ; se- 

 condary quills thirteen, of moderate length, broad^ 

 broadly rounded with a minute acumen, a little oblique 

 when the wing is closed. Tail long, straight, nearly 

 even or rounded, of twelve moderately broad rounded 

 feathers. 



The genus Circus may in several respects be consi- 

 dered as allied to the genera Accipiter and Buteoy 

 while it obviously forms a transition from the falconine 

 family to that of the 'owls. The bill is intermediate in 

 form between that of Accipiter and that of Buteo ; the 

 tarsi resemble those of the former, and the wings those 

 of the latter. The general form, which is slender, ap- 

 proaches to that of Accipiter, and the plumage is inter- 

 mediate between that of the buzzards and owls. To 

 the latter birds the harriers shew a decided affinity in 

 the texture and form of their feathers, especially the 



