98 FALCONID^E. 



large. Nostrils oval. Lore covered with radiating hairs. Head surrounded 

 with a ruff of small feathers. Wings long ; the first 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 character 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 all the known species, 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 the 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 repre- 

 sents an old male. 



The Marsh Harrier, as its name imports, is generally 



