44 OUR RARER BRITISH BREEDING BIRDS. 



upon by many writers, and finds its parallel in the 

 case of the Kite. 



As it is now principally a migratory bird, and 

 turns up in varying numbers from season to season, 

 there is perhaps more hope for it in some of the 

 large Scottish deer forests, than for it or its con- 

 geners trying to breed in England. 



The photograph from which the illustration on 

 the previous page has been reproduced, was obtained 

 in the Outer Hebrides a year or two ago. The 

 nest was placed amongst the deep heather, and 

 was composed of dead stalks and withered grass. 

 It is said that when situated on wet ground the 

 nest is bulkier, and composed of sticks, sedge, reeds, 

 and flags. 



The eggs, numbering four or five, and occa- 

 sionally as many as six, are white faintly tinged 

 with blue or bluish-green, and occasionally marked 

 with light rusty red or yellowish-brown. Their 

 variation in size according to the age of the layer, 

 and general resemblance to the eggs of the Marsh 

 and Montagu Harriers attempting to breed in this 

 country, render the most careful identification 

 necessary. 



HARRIER, MARSH. 



THEKE can be but little doubt that the Marsh 

 Harrier is one of the very rarest predatory birds 

 still attempting to breed in this country, and that 

 its chances of ever succeeding in doing so are 

 of the remotest character, unless it were to bo 

 afforded a very wide range of effective protection. 

 Lord Castletown has very kindly held out a sub- 

 stantial reward to any of his keepers for the 



