226 SPARROW HAWK. 



wick. " It was in a large extent of swampy ground, 

 on the margin of one of the numerous lakes and ponds 

 where the reeds had not been mown down. They 

 are too thick on the ground for a flat-bottomed boat 

 to be forced through ; but the water comes above the 

 knees as one wades amongst them. In the middle of 

 this bed of reeds the Marsh Harrier had built. The 

 nest was very large, the outside composed of two 

 thirds reeds and one third small branches of trees, 

 and the extreme diameter was at least four feet ; but 

 the outside was very loose and straggling. It stood 

 two feet above the surface of the water ; and one 

 could see underneath the nest by stooping down. 

 The inside of the nest was neat and compact, measur- 

 ing less than a foot across, and warmly lined with dry 

 flag leaves and dry grass. It contained four eggs of 

 the Marsh Harrier and one of the Coot, which had 

 doubtless been taken thither to feed the sitting bird." 



The eggs are a greenish white, and have been 

 compared to Domestic Hens' eggs. Frequently they 

 are marked with small blotches of a pale yellowish 

 brown. 



The general colours of the Marsh Harrier are dark 

 reddish brown above, and a rich chestnut beneath. 

 The head and neck are white streaked with dark 

 brown. 



SPARROW HAWK. 



ACCIPITER NISUS. 



Family FALCONID^;. Genus ACCIPITER. 

 Pigeon Hawk. 



Though described as the commonest and most ex- 

 tensively distributed of our resident birds of prey, yet 



