■M U ' 



BIEDS OF EGYPT. 181 



round the crop marked with large brown blotches ; feathers 

 on the abdomen, flanks, and thighs narrowly barred with 

 russet ; legs and feet covered with downy buff feathers ; 

 beak black ; irides deep yellow. 



Entire length 20 inches; culmen 2-1; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 15'5 ; tarsus 3. 



The above description is taken from a specimen I shot in 

 the Fayoom. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 38. 



Fam. FALCONID-S]. 



165. Circus ^ruginosus (Linn.). Marsh- Harrier . -^f //t^ / 



To be met with throughout Egypt and Nubia, but far most 

 abundant in the Delta and the Fayoom. 



I have a fine series of seven specimens in adult plumage, 

 with grey wings and tail, from Egypt and Nubia, varying 

 considerably in their coloration, which must be my excuse for 

 the following long description of then- plumage. I may also 

 remark that they were all males by dissection, which inchnes 

 me to believe that the females do not assume this plumage 

 at all ; or if they do, it must be a long time before this 

 change is completed. 



Male. — Top of the head and nape of the neck white, buft', 

 or russet, more or less streaked with dark brown down the 

 centre of the feathers ; back and wing-coverts brown, paler on 

 the edges, especially on the shoulders ; wings more or less 

 washed with silvery grey; tail grey, and the upper tail- 

 coverts usually marbled with white, grey, and rufous ; under 



