10 BIRDS OF THE HUMBER DISTRICT. 



craw and stomach filled to distention with wasp- 

 grubs (Zoologist for 1865, p. 9417). I have not met 

 with a Lincolnshire-killed specimen of this bird. 



16. CIRCUS JERUGINOSUS (Linnaeus). Marsh-Harrier. 



This species is now probably extinct in North 

 Lincolnshire. I have met with no specimen, dead 

 or alive, during the last ten years. Mr. Boyes men- 

 tions* a young male Marsh-Harrier shot near 

 Beverley on the 13th of October, 1871, and remarks, 

 " quite a rare and accidental occurrence." 



17. CIRCUS CYANEUS (Linnseus). Hen-Harrier <$ , 

 Ringtail ? . 



The Hen-Harrier, as Mr. Alington informs me, 

 used to be formerly very common in the low grounds 

 in the parish of South Thoresby, but it must now be 

 considered of only rare occurrence in the district. 

 The drainage of the marshes, breaking-up of their 

 old haunts by improved farming, and game-keeping 

 have all had their share in reducing the numbers of 

 this and many other species once common in the 

 county. I have of late years occasionally come 

 across it in the Great Cotes marshes. The adult 

 male, on the wing, has much the appearance of a 

 gull sweeping over the land. 



An old male was shot nearEpworth in the winter 



* Zoologist, 1871, p. 2847. 



