40 FALCONID^E. 



to station itself on a tree or rock, thereon to explore the 

 country; but while hunting, it is always on the wing, 

 skimming along the ground, and beating about the bushes 

 with a noiseless, unsteady flight, and always taking its prey 

 on the ground. Rabbit- warrens afford this bird a favourite 

 hunting-ground, where it either pounces on such living 

 animals as it can surprise, or performs the office of under- 

 taker to the dead bodies of rabbits killed by the weasels, 

 burying them in the grave of its craw. In this ignoble 

 office it is said to be sometimes assisted by the Buzzard, 

 and both birds have been accused of setting to work before 

 their unhappy victim has breathed its last. On the sea- 

 shore, the Marsh Harrier commits great depredations among 

 young water-fowl, and is often mobbed and driven from 

 the neighbourhood by the assembled old birds. The 

 Partridge and Quail often too fall victims to its voracity, 

 so that the Marsh Harrier receives no quarter from game- 

 keepers. It places its nest generally near water, in a tuft 

 of rushes, or at the base of a bush, constructing it of sticks, 

 rushes, and long grass, and lays three or four eggs. 



The Marsh Harrier is a widely dispersed species, being 

 found, says Temminck, in all countries where there are 

 marshes. It occurs but sparingly in most parts of Great 

 Britain and Ireland. It is sometimes called the Moor 

 Buzzard. 



HEN HARRIER 



CIRCUS CYANEUS. 



Tail longer than the wings ; third and fourth primaries of equal length ; upper 

 plumage of the male bluish grey ; lower white. Upper plumage of the female 

 reddish brown; lower, pale reddish yellow, with deep orange brown longitudinal 

 streaks and spots. Beak black ; cere greenish yellow ; irides reddish brown ; 

 feet yellow ; claws black. Length : male, eighteen inches ; female, twenty inches. 

 Eggs white. 



Two birds of this family, the Hen Harrier and Ringtail, 

 were formerly considered distinct species ; and no wonder ; 

 for , not only are they different in size, but dissimilar 



