CIRCUS PYCiAHGUS OS 



to pay a heavy toll. As an instance of the insatiable appetite of this 

 species and its yoiuiw, may be nientioned the fact recorded by j\Ir. 

 Seebohm, as having been communicated to him by Dr. Holland, of a 

 pair of Marsh-Harriers, in one day, bringing to their nest no less 

 than six partridges, four hares, and two leverets ! 



Like other Harriers, the present species places its nest, made of 

 dry flags, twigs and grasses, on the ground, generally in the middle of 

 a clump of reeds. The eggs, from four to six in number, are usually 

 very pale bluish, or almost white and devoid of markings, but examples 

 slightly marked with pale brown are occasionally met with. Average 

 measurements 50 x 40 mm. 



CIRCUS PYGARGUS (Liunasus). 



MONTAGU'S HAREIEE. 



Falco pygargus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 126 (1766). 



Circus pygargus, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mas. i, p. 61 ; Erlanger, 



J. f. 0. 1898, p. i3i. 

 Circus cineraceus, Malherbe, Cat. liais. d'Ois. Alg. p. 7 (1846). 

 Strigiceps cineraceus, Loche, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. i, p. 85 (1867). 



Description. — Adult male, spring, from North Tunisia. 



Above pale slate-grey ; upper tail-coverts barred with white ; central 

 pair of rectrices grey, the remainder grey, barred with white and rufous ; 

 primaries black ; secondaries slightly barred with black ; axillaries and 

 under sides of the body white, barred and striped with rufous ; throat and 

 breast grey, becoming white on the abdomen and rest of the underparts. 



Iris yellow ; bill black ; cere yellow ; feet yellow. 



Total length 18'50 inches, wing 15, culmen 1, tarsus 2-35. 



Adult female rather larger, and generally darker and browner in 

 coloration. 



Observations. — In this species the outer web of the fifth primary has 

 a plain margin, without any notch, while the second primary has a notch 

 high up. 



This species, according to my experience, appears to be far from 

 common in Tunisia, although Blanc says it is abundant in some 

 seasons during the spring migration, and is occasionally to be met 



