363 



THE MARSH-HARRIER. 



(Circus oeruginosus.) 



(Formerly known as the Moor-Buzzard.) 



THE Marsh-Harrier is one of the shyest and most 

 cunning of our birds of prey. It immediately attracts 

 attention by its size and its constant activity ; but it 

 requires a good sportsman to get a shot at it. It is most 

 easily got at when feasting among the high grass at the 

 edge of the reedy marsh ; it then forgets to be prudent 

 and sometimes takes flight only too late. Early and late 

 it hovers over the borders of the marshes and reed-beds, 

 sweeping, circling without rest, now and then making 

 a swift descent into the rushes and the sedges and 

 securing its prey. There is no small creature of the 

 marsh, the bog, the heath, or the moor that this bird 

 will not take; it works special destruction among the 

 singing birds which nest among the reeds and sedges. 

 It does not wait for the young birds to be hatched, but 

 is very clever in breaking open the eggs and devouring 

 the contents, always bringing them on to dry land for 

 the purpose. 



The birds of the reed-land know this raider well, and 

 as soon as the first flap of his wing is heard the terrified 

 Lapwings, Gulls, Terns, and others, arise with loud 

 cries and attack him tooth and nail. When brooding 

 it lives almost exclusively by egg stealing; later on the 

 moor hens afford provender for this insatiable thief. It 

 leaves Hungary for the winter, but returns in early 

 spring. Its cry varies. In spring it is " kei, kei," in 

 autumn it is like that of the Jay. The female utters a 

 loud " pitz! pits." 



This bird is common in the Hungarian marshes. 



