CIRCUS CINEKACEL'S. 167 



Outer w^b of fifth primary notched ; upper tail-coverts white, banded or 

 spotted with ashy grey. 



Adult male. Above pale slate-grey ; cJiest wldte. 



Female. Much as female of Montagu's Harrier, except the grey spots on 

 upper tail-coverts. Length 17-20 inches. 



182. Circus cineraceus (Montagu). Montagu's Harrier. 



Spanish. Cenizo. 



"This Harrier passes to Europe in March and April; but 

 some remain to breed near Tangier, where they are nearly as 

 common as the Marsh-Harrier, being seen during passage on all 

 sides in pairs. They nest on the ground, laying five eggs, which 

 vary much in shape, the colour being bluish white, marked with 

 spots of clear blue, which, after the egg is blown, turn yellowish." 

 Favier. 



Near Lixus, in Morocco, at the end of April, we found a 

 regular colony : there must have been fifteen or twenty pair on a 

 marsh across the river. We had no time to go round and 

 examine the ground, and could not cross the river at that place ; 

 but we could see with my telescope the hen birds sitting dotted 

 about the marsh. The males took a particular line across our 

 side of the river ; so I shot three for identification. 



In the vicinity of Gibraltar this migratory Harrier is not often 

 met with, except on passage ; I did not observe them in winter. 

 Near Seville they are very common, and dark specimens, some of 

 them complete melanisms, are frequently procured. 



Like other Harriers, they are terrible egg-destroyers, but other- 

 wise harmless. They can be easily recognized by their smaller 

 size, lighter and more Owl-like flight, their wings being longer in 

 proportion than other European Harriers. 



Outer web of///t primary entire. Notch on inner web of the first and 

 outer web of the second primary an inch beyond the tip of the primary- 

 coverts. 



Adult male. Above bluish grey ; throat and chest ashy grey. Axillaries, 

 flanks, belly, and thighs white, with rufous streaks. One Hack land across 

 secondaries visible when wings are closed. 



