OUR RARER BRITISH BREEDING BIRDS. 47 



being unfinished. The marsh-keeper who trapped 

 the birds says that the male of this species arrives 

 a week before his mate from their winter quarters, 

 and occupies his time in getting the nest ready. 



The eggs of the Marsh Harrier number from 

 three to five or six, and are white, although some- 

 times slightly tinged with milk - blue or pale 

 bluish - green, and very rarely marked with a few 

 rusty-red spots. They may be distinguished from 

 those of the Montagu Harrier by their larger size, 

 and the fact that the nest of the last-named 

 bird is absolutely on the ground. 



HARRIER, MONTAGU. 



ALTHOUGH now, alas! a rare member of the Falconidge 

 family, this bird has attempted to breed within our 

 shores much oftener than the last species during 

 recent years ; but, there is every reason to fear, 

 with the smallest degree of success. 



The nest figured in our illustration was situated 

 not very far from the unfortunate Marsh Harrier's 

 attempt at housekeeping, but was not built in 

 such deep sedge grass. It was placed flat upon 

 the wet marsh ground, and had a sort of little 

 courtyard in front of it, where all the vegetation 

 had been cleared away or beaten down. The diam- 

 eter of the actual structure was about eight and 

 a half inches, and its materials consisted of rushes, 

 sedge, ragwort stems, and a few bits of dead 

 grass. Mr. Bird considered it a large nest for 

 two eggs, as the birds add materials, like many 

 other species, as they lay their eggs. 



We waited for several hours in a dyke not far 



