ACCIPITREH. 



MARSH -HARRIER. 127 



FALCON ID.E. 



Circus ^ruginosus (Linnaeus*). 

 THE MARSH-HARPJER. 



Circus (eruginosns. 



CiKCUS, Lacipcdef. — Beak small, bending from the base, compressed and 

 elevated ; cutting edge of the upper mandible with a slight festoon. Cere large. 

 Nostrils oval, and imrtly concealed by the hairs radiating from the lores. Lower 

 part of the liead surrounded by a ruff of small thick-set feathers. Wings long ; 

 the first feather very short, the third and fourth the longest. Tail long. Tarsi 

 long, slender, and naked ; toes rather short, and not very unequal ; claws slightly 

 curved, and very sharp. 



* Falco ariKjinosus, Linnteus, Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 130 (1766). 

 t Meiuoires de I'liistitut, iii. p. .506 (18U0-18O1). 



