CIRCUS MACRURUS 95 



the north and centre of the Regency. Loche states that the species 

 is very abundant in Alcjeria, and that it lireeds there, but perhaps 

 he may have mistaken some other Harrier for it. In Marocco, 

 according to Favier, it appears to be seldom met with near Tangier. 

 On the Spanish side of the Straits, Colonel Irby states that this 

 Harrier, though a resident, is most frequently to be seen in winter, 

 and the same seems to be the case in Italy and some other Mediter- 

 ranean districts. 



Resembling its congeners to a great extent in its general habits, 

 the Hen-Harrier appears to differ from them in often frequenting 

 mountain sides and open moors at some distance from water ; it is 

 also bolder in the pursuit of its prey, chasing birds on the wing, and 

 not only seizing its victims on the ground. Like the Marsh-Harrier 

 it will attack birds as large as partridges, as well as hares and 

 rabbits. 



In its nesting habits the Hen-Harrier is said to resemble the pre- 

 ceding species, but its eggs are rather larger. 



CIRCUS MACRURUS (S. G. Gmelin). 

 PALLID HARRIER. 



Accipiter macrourus, S'. G. Gmel. N. Comm. Peti: xv, p. 4-39, pla. 



8 and 9 (1771). 

 Circus raacrurus, Sliarpc, Cat. Birds Brit. Mns. i,p. 67 ; Whitnher, litis, 



1S95, p. 10.3 ; Erlamjer, J.f. 0. 1898, p. 432. 

 Strigiceps swainsoni, Loche, Expl. Sci. Alcj. Ois. i, p. 88 (18G7). 

 Circus pallidas, Kocnig, J.f. 0. 1888, p. 160; id. J.f. 0. 1892, p. 348. 



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



Above Freneh-grey ; upper tail-coverts grey, barred with white ; tail- 

 feathers, with the exception of the central pair, also barred with white ; 

 primaries blackish ; secondaries white on the inner web ; breast very pale 

 grey, becoming white on the rest of the underparts. 



Iris pale j-ellow ; bill black ; cere yellow ; feet gamboge-yellow. 



Total length 18 inches, wing 13-80, culmen 1, tarsus 2-60. 



Adult female resembles somewhat the female of C pygargus. 



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

 and the second primary has the notch low down. 



