MARSH HARRIER. 105 



wing-feather very short, the third or fourth feather the longest. Tail 

 long. Tarsi long, slender, and naked ; claws slightly curved, and very 

 sharp. 



THE MARSH HARRIER, though frequently called a Buz- 

 zard, is, in conjunction with the two British species to be 

 described next in succession, immediately distinguished 

 from the true Buzzards by the more elongated and slender 

 form of their bodies, their lengthened, taper, and naked 

 legs, the still greater softness of their plumage, and by 

 the circular disk of short feathers which surround the face. 

 In the two points last mentioned, namely, the loose and 

 floculent characters of the feathers, and the circular arrange- 

 ment of those about the face, the Harriers exhibit an 

 obvious resemblance to the Owls, and the affinity on com- 

 paring the skeletons of each is most decided. 



One of the remarkable traits in the species of the genus 

 CIRCUS, as established by Bechstein, is, that the males 

 when adult are all more or less ash grey in colour, while 

 the females retain their original tints of red or brown. 

 This at least is the case with the species known, three of 

 which are British. The Marsh Harrier is the largest of 

 these, and appears to require a greater length of time 

 than others of smaller size before the male exhibits any 

 portion of the ash grey plumage ; nor is it known, that 

 I am aware, that this species ever at any age becomes 

 entirely grey, like other smaller males among the Harriers ; 

 but when the habits and plumage of the Marsh Harrier 

 are duly considered, and compared with those of the 

 two species which follow here in succession, no doubt 

 will remain that the bird now under consideration is a 

 true Harrier, and not a Buzzard. Our figure represents 

 an old male. 



The Marsh Harrier, as its name imports, is generally 

 found on low and level lands, or uncultivated heaths and 



