164 FALCON ID.E. 



both resident and migratory in the vicinity of Tangier. Those 

 which migrate, pass to Europe in February and March, returning 

 in September and October. They commence to breed late in 

 March. Their eggs differ very much in shape, being sometimes 

 round, sometimes elongated." Favier. 



In Andalucia, as in Morocco, over all low wet ground, the 

 Marsh-Harrier is to be seen in vast numbers, particularly in 

 winter. Great quantities remain to breed, sometimes as many as 

 twenty nests being within three hundred yards of one another. 

 The latter, loosely constructed with dead sedges, vary much in 

 size and depth, and are usually placed amidst rushes in swamps, 

 but sometimes on the ground among brambles and low brush- 

 wood, always near water, though occasionally far from marshes. 

 They begin to lay about the end of March, and at that season fly 

 up to a great height, playing about, and continually uttering their 

 wailing cry. The eggs are bluish white, and usually four or five 

 in number ; they certainly vary in size and shape, and are often 

 much stained. Like the eggs of all the Harriers that I am 

 acquainted with, and many others of the Accipitres, when blown 

 and held up to the light they show a bluish tinge. On the same 

 day I found a nest containing only one egg, nearly ready to 

 hatch, and another with six eggs (three quite fresh and the other 

 three hard sat-on). I believe that, if the first set of eggs be taken 

 they lay again in a fresh nest, as we found sets of fresh eggs as 

 late as the 2nd of May. 



Verner says : " Many nests are built on old Coots' and Purple 

 Herons' nests among reeds eight or ten feet high, and in three 

 feet of water. Irregular in time of laying, I found in 1875, on 

 May 7, nest with two fresh eggs ; on May 10, nest with three 

 hard-set eggs ; in 1879, on May 7, five fresh eggs, and another 

 nest- close by with four young whose quill-feathers were shooting 

 out." 



The Marsh-Harrier is a perfect pest to the sportsman, as, 

 slowly hunting along in front, they put up every snipe and duck 



