94 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



with in the Eegency in winter. It is said to be not uncommon in 

 Algeria and Marocco, and according to Favier, is to be found breeding 

 near Tangier, being nearly as common there as the Marsh-Harrier. 



In its habits Montagu's Harrier does not seem to differ much, 

 if at all, from the preceding species ; it frequents the same localities, 

 hunts for similar prey in the same systematic way, and roosts at night 

 on the ground. 



Like other Harriers, it constructs a bulky nest of flags and grasses 

 on the ground, and lays from four to six eggs, of a pale greyish, or 

 .bluish-white, and usually unspotted, though specimens have been 

 found with rufous markings on them. The eggs are smaller than 

 those of its congeners, and, according to Loche, generally measure 

 4.5 X 34 mm. 



CIRCUS CYANEUS (Linnaeus). 

 HEN-HAERIER. 



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



Circus cyaneus, Boie, Ms, 1822, p. 549 ; Sharpe, Cat. Birch Jlrit. .¥//s. 



i, p. 52; Malherbe, Cat. Rais. iVOis. Ahj. p. 7 (1846) ; Kocuifi, J. f. 0. 



1892, p. 348 ; Whitaker, Ibis, 1895, p. 10.3. 

 Strigiceps cyaneus, Locke, E.rpl. Sci. Alg. Ois. i, p. 90 (1867). 



Description. — Adult female, spring, North Tunisia. 



Above brown, with an admixture of creamy-white, particularly on the 

 nape and neck ; rump and upper tail-coverts pure white ; tail barred ; 

 below creamy-white, striped with broad brown markings, which become 

 more rufous on the abdomen, flanks and crissum. 



Iris yellow ; bill blackish ; cere yellow ; feet yellow. 



Total length 21-50 inches, wing 15-50, culraen 1-25, tarsus 2-50. 



Adult male smaller than the female, and of an ashen blue-grey colour 

 throughout. 



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

 notched. 



The Hen-Harrier does not appear to be at all common in Tunisia, 

 although I have obtained specimens of it in spring from districts in 



