MELIERAX POLYZONUS. 35 
always take the same course^ and come evening after evening 
within five minutes of the same time. Upon one occasion 
a friend and myself killed eleven_, and during that visit ac- 
counted for over twenty. I also upon every possible opportu- 
nity destroyed the nest and shot the old ones ; but it was the 
labour of Sisyphus ; for others immediately appeared. How- 
ever, there was a visible diminution of their numbers at Casa 
Vieja. I never saw rats in their nests or crops, and believe 
they have not the courage to kill them : small snakes, frogs, 
wounded birds, eggs, and nestlings unable to fly form the 
main part of their prey. I have seen the Marsh- Harrier 
hawking over the sea about two hundred yards from the 
shore, where there was shallow water, but could not see what 
they were taking. 
The very old males have the wings and tail ash-grey; when 
flying in the sun, these parts appear almost white. Females 
shot at the nest and elsewhere never appear to attain this 
plumage. They are much lighter in colour on the body than 
the immature birds, which usually have the top of the head 
and shoulders yellowish white, the rest of the plumage being 
very dark brown; but they vary much in depth of colour. 
Some young birds have the head quite white ; in others it is 
the same colour as the body ; and I could not ascertain this 
to be a diflcrence of sex. 
I do not know whether it is always the case with the 
Harriers ; but, as far as ray observation goes with regard to 
the Marsh-Harrier, it seems that the males do not sit, as I 
have shot and seen shot many from the nest, but never saw 
a male killed flying off* the eggs, and have noticed that the 
males only leave the nesting-places to hunt for prey. I have 
also observed the same fact with Montagu's Harrier. 
8. Melierax POLYZONUS, Riipp. Many-banded Hawk. 
Obtained by Mr. Drake at Mogador (Ibis, 1869, p. 153) . 
The Zoological Gardens also had one living a short time 
back, which came direct from Morocco, and Lord Lilford 
has recently received one from Mogador. The legs and cere 
are vermilion. 
D 2 
