3IO MONTAGUS HARRIER. 



namely in October 1848, October 1849, and in 1877 ; all near Bray, 

 CO. Wicklovv. 



The St. Petersburg district and the Gulf of Finland appear to 

 mark the extreme northern breeding-limits of this Harrier; but it is 

 abundant in summer in Central and Southern Russia, and on the 

 steppes of tlie latter a few remain throughout the winter. In Denmark 

 and in the north of Germany it is not numerous ; but to the central 

 and southern districts of the latter it is a regular visitor, arriving in 

 March and leaving in October ; while in Holland, Belgium, and 

 many parts of France it is common, large flocks often congregating 

 at the time of migration. A considerable number are resident in 

 suitable localities in the Spanish Peninsula and other parts of the 

 south of Europe, a large increase taking place in winter ; and many 

 are killed in Malta on their passage to and from Africa. In the cold 

 season Montagu's Harrier occurs in the Canaries, Morocco, Algeria, 

 Egypt, Abyssinia and as far south as Cape Colony ; while in Asia 

 its range extends to Turkestan and the south-west of Siberia in 

 summer, and in winter to India, Ceylon and Burma. 



The nest is often a mere hollow lined with dry grass and bordered 

 with twigs, in the middle of a small clearing in gorse or heather, 

 and, on the Continent, in a field of grain ; but in the fens it is mere 

 substantially built of sedge. The eggs, laid at intervals of two or 

 three days, about the end of May, are usually pale bluish-white, but 

 sometimes spotted with reddish-brown : average measurements, 17 

 by 1*3 in. I never found the male bird on the nest. Like other 

 Harriers, this species eats small mammals and birds, but its food 

 consists principally of grass-snakes, vipers, lizards and other reptiles, 

 large insects, such as grasshoppers and locusts, and, during the season, 

 eggs of other birds. From the crop of a male I once took two un- 

 broken eggs of the Crested Lark, and the crushed remains of others. 

 The flight is very light and elegant ; the young sometimes circle and 

 hover with out-spread wings and tail, like Kestrels, though less 

 steadily, and the white colour of the rump distinguishes them. 



The adult male has the upper parts slate-grey, with a black bar 

 across the secondaries; throat and breast ash-grey; lower parts 

 white streaked with rufous. Varieties reaching to an entirely sooty- 

 black are not uncommon in this sex, but are rare in the female. The 

 latter is usually brown above, and buftish-white streaked with rufous- 

 brown below ; the young are similar, but almost chestnut on the 

 under parts. Length : male about 18 in. ; female 19 in. 



