104 THE HARRIERS 



fondness of this bird for young ducks and other waterfowl. Even expert 

 divers are overcome. It will beat along the river, they remark, till it 

 drives out a coot. The latter seeks to escape by diving, but the harrier 

 pursues it each time it comes to the surface, until the wretched bird 

 is drowned or taken. This being so, it is not surprising to learn that 

 it will also take fish from shallow water. There is no doubt but that 

 the practical extinction of the marsh-harrier as a British bird is 

 largely due to the work of drainage. There are still, however, areas, 

 especially in Norfolk, which would afford it harbourage if they could 

 but be protected against the raids of egg-collectors. 



Of the courting habits of these birds we know nothing. It would 

 seem that the female always incubates, and during the time is fed by 

 the male. In the case of Montagu's harriers at any rate, and perhaps 

 of all, the male provides the food. Often as he approaches the nest, 

 his mate will fly out to meet him and receive the prey, which she 

 then takes to the nest. Both parents thus share in the task of 

 feeding the young, though of the methods of feeding and the later 

 history of the young we know nothing. 



