MARSH HARRiElt. 241 



and feet yellow ; the claws sharp, but not strong 

 in proportion to the size of the bird, and not much 

 curved, (see fig. 2. of woodcut, p. 226.) A female 

 measured about twenty-three inches and a half 

 a male scarcely twenty inches. The usual length 

 of the first is from twenty-two to twenty-four 

 inches, of the latter from nineteen to twenty. 



Mr Gould, in his beautiful " Birds of Europe," 

 has figured a bird as the adult state of the Marsh 

 Harrier, which, if he is .correct, shews a curious 

 change of plumage. He is of opinion that all the 

 specimens generally killed in this country are 

 young birds, that the species is very long in 

 attaining maturity, and that it breeds while in 

 the young state of plumage. The bird, which he 

 has figured as in perfect livery, has the head, 

 neck, and breast pale, with white markings to 

 the feathers ; the shoulders, secondaries, and tail, 

 of the delicate pale grey common to the male of 

 the Hen Harrier and Ash-coloured Harrier, 

 while the under parts, particularly the lower, are 

 tinted more with rufous. Mr Gould mentions 

 having received it from Himmalaya. 



