44 THE BIRDS OF NORTHAMPTONSmRE 



been badly stuffed, after about ten years it crumbled 

 to pieces. — ^Thos. Gulliver, Crown Woodman" 



A male of this species was shot at Milton, near 

 Peterborough, in the summer of 1890, stuffed by John 

 Evans of Bourne, and is now preserved in the Peter- 

 borough Museum. 



13. MARSH-HARRIER. 



Circus ceriicfiiiosns. 



This bird, formerly so abundant in tlie fens and 

 marshy districts of England, where it was generally 

 known as the Moor-Buzzard, I have only once met 

 with in Northamptonshire, and much regret that I have 

 no record of the exact date. It was, however, in a 

 winter between 18G0-G5 ; I was looking for wild fowl 

 and Snipes along a brook between Aldwincle and 

 Thrapston, and had just fired both barrels at some 

 Snipes, when a fine Marsh-Harrier, with the dark 

 plumage and yellow head of immaturity, rose within 

 some thirty yards of me from the brook-side, and 

 sailed away to the northward. I never even heard of 

 another in our neighbourhood, — which is remarkable, 

 as before the draining of Whittlesea Mere and the 

 adjoining fens the bird was exceedingly common 

 thereabouts ; our river-valley is near that district, 

 and, one would suppose, presents sufficient attractions 

 to a marsh-loving bird to induce it to extend its 

 travels occasionally in our direction. 



This is one of the most widely distributed of our 

 European birds of prey, and, from my ow^n observa- 

 tion, I should be inclined to say one of the most 



