CIRCUS JERUGIXOSCS. 165 



that lie in their course, making them unsettled and wild. I have 

 repeatedly seen them flush Little Bustards ; but these merely 

 flew fifty yards to the right or left out of the Harriers' line 

 of flight, and settled down again. 



Cowardly and ignoble, they are the terror of all the poultry 

 which are in their districts, continually carrying off chickens, 

 and, like other Harriers, are most terribly destructive to the eggs 

 and young of all birds. 



On account of these propensities, I never let off a Marsh- 

 Harrier unless it spoiled sport to fire at one. Sometimes, when 

 at Casas Viejas and the snipe were scarce, to pass away the time, 

 we used to lie up in the line of the Harriers' flight to their 

 roosting-places ; for they always take the same course, and come 

 evening after evening within five minutes of the same time. 

 Upon one occasion a friend and myself killed eleven, and during 

 that visit accounted for over twenty. We also upon every possible 

 opportunity destroyed the nest and shot the old ones ; but it was 

 the labour of Sisyphus, for others immediately appeared. How- 

 ever, there was a visible diminution of their numbers about Casas 

 Yiejas. We never found rats in their nests or crops, and believe 

 they have not the courage to kill them : small snakes, frogs, 

 wounded birds, eggs, and nestlings form the main part of their 

 prey. I have seen the Marsh-Harrier hawking over the sea 

 about two hundred yards from the shore, where there was 

 shallow water, but could not discover what they were taking. 



I do not know whether it is always the case with the Harriers, 

 but, as far as my observation goes with regard to the Marsh- 

 Harrier, it seems that the males do not sit, as I have shot, and 

 seen shot, many from the nest, but never saw a male killed flying 

 off the eggs, and have noticed that the males only leave the 

 nesting-places to hunt for prey. I have also observed the same 

 fact with Montagu's Harrier. 



The very old males have the wings and tail ash-grey ; when 

 flying in the sun, these parts appear almost white. 



