MARSH-HARRIER. 



AOCIP1TRES. 



127 



FALCONIDJ*. 



CIRCUS ^RUGINOSUS (Linnaeus*). 

 THE MARSH-HARRIER. 



Circus ceruginosus, 



CIRCUS, Lacepede^. Beak small, bending from the base, compressed and 

 elevated ; cutting edge of the upper mandible with a slight festoon. Cere large. 

 Nostrils oval, and partly concealed by the hairs radiating from the lores. Lower 

 part of the head surrounded by a ruff of small thick-set feathers. Wings long ; 

 the first feather very short, the third and foui'th the longest. Tail long. Tarsi 

 long, slender, and naked ; toes rather short, and not very unequal ; claws slightly 

 curved, and very sharp. 



* Falco ceruginosus, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 130 (1766). 

 f Memoires de 1'Institut, iii. p. 506 (1800-1801). 



