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233. Montagu's Harrier. Circus pygargns (Linnaeus). 



Circus cineraceus. Shelley, p. 184. 



As far as is known, this harrier is a winter visitor to Egypt, 

 a few remaining until the middle of April. It is not common, 

 but is frequently confused with the pallid harrier. 



Length 18 inches. The adult male is pale slate grey above, 

 with a black bar on the secondaries. Throat and breast ash 

 grey ; rest of under parts white streaked with rufous. Central 

 tail feathers grey, the rest barred with dark brown. Females 

 are brown above and buf! streaked with brown below. Young 

 birds are similar, but uniform reddish bufp below. Distinguished 

 at all ages from the pallid harrier by the notch on the first 

 primary being one inch beyond the primary coverts. Li the 

 pallid harrier the notch is level with the primary coverts. 



234. Pallid Harrier. Circus macrurus (S. G. Gmelin). 



Circus pallidus. Shelley, p. 183. 



Common, and possibly some individuals are resident, 

 though in some winters it is more abundant than in others. 



Length about 19 inches. Upper parts pale grey ; under 

 parts pure white ; upper tail coverts white barred with grey ; 

 central tail feathers pale grey, the rest barred with blackish grey ; 

 legs, cere and irides yellow. Adult males in autumn have the 

 throat and upper breast washed with grey. Female brown 

 above, the feathers edged with paler brown. Upper tail coverts 

 white barred ^\^th brown ; tail barred with dark brown ; inner 

 webs of flight feathers mottled and barred with browTi. Young 

 birds are only distinguishable from those of Montagu's harrier 

 by the notch on the first primary being equal to and never 

 beyond the primary coverts. 



235. Buzzard. Buteo huteo huteo (Linnaeus). 



Buteo vulgaris. Shelley, p. 200. 



Probably of very rare occurrence in Egypt. It is recorded 

 by Shelley and also by J. H. Gurney, " Rambles of a Naturalist," 

 page 142. 



Length about 17 inches. Upper parts brown with lighter 

 edges to the feathers, and mottled on head and neck with white ; 

 tail barred ; under parts whitish mottled with brown. The 

 plumage of this buzzard varies considerably and apparently 

 irrespective of sex. 



