MOOR HARRIER. 293 



variegated with brownisb-red, and tbe tips of all red- 

 dish-white. The downy parts and bases of the feathers 

 in general are grey, but of those on the hind neck and 

 on the yellowish-white parts, they are pure white. In 

 this individual the scutella of the tarsus were eighteen, 

 of the first toe six, of the second six, of the third seven- 

 teen, of the fourth twelve. 



Length to end of tail 24 inches, to end of wings 23 ; 

 extent of wings 52; wing from flexure 16|; tail 9|; 

 bill along the back 1/g, along the edge of the lower 

 mandible l^^^ ; tarsus 3^; first toe ^f, its claw l^^ ; se- 

 cond toe 1, its claw 1||; third toe lj§, its claw \^; 

 fourth toe l^, its claw \^, 



Variations Individuals differ considerably in co- 

 lour, but chiefly in the extent of the yellowish-white 

 of the head and neck. Sometimes the crown of the 

 head and the throat only are of that colour, with indi- 

 cations of the same on the hind neck and shoulders. 

 Independently of the colouring, the old birds may be 

 distinguished from the young, by the greater size of 

 the bill, toes, and claws. M. Temminck states that he 

 has traced the variations of colour on individuals kept 

 for the purpose. I therefore adopt his views on the 

 subject, considering the oldest birds to be those which 

 have most white. My descriptions, however, are all 

 taken from birds, not borrowed. 



Habits. — Not having had opportunities of studying 

 the habits of this bird, I am obliged to have recourse 

 to the observations of others. The authors of recent 

 date, whose accuracy I have found to be highest, are, 



