Marsh Harrier. 91 



lects one being shot at Wardour many years ago. Sir H. Meux 

 reports one shot in the West Woods near Marlborough in 1855 ; 

 and Mr. Grant tells me of one shot at Lavington Sands in 

 October, 1882, whose weight was 2 lb., length 21 inches, and 

 breadth of wing 4 feet 1 inch. 



The name Pernis is interpreted to be a corruption of Pternis, 

 from TT-ripva, ' the heel,' and to signify ' long-heeled.' In Germany 

 it is known as Wespen Buzard, ' Wasp-Buzzard/ and in France 

 Buse bondrte. 



16. MARSH HARRIER (Circus ceruginosus). 



The Harriers differ from the Buzzards in their more slender and 

 elegant form, their longer and more naked legs, and especially in 

 the distinct ruff of close -set feathers which surrounds their face ; 

 their flight, though not swift, is light and buoyant, and they are 

 able to continue it for a considerable time. From their habit of 

 sweeping over the surface of the ground, at no great elevation 

 above it, and in this manner hunting for game like dogs, they have 

 derived the generic name ' Harrier.' Professor Skeat, however, 

 says they are so named from ' harrying or destroying small birds ;' 

 and it is certainly true that though their prey consists chiefly of 

 small quadrupeds and reptiles, they will occasionally take birds 

 as well. Yarrell adds that a remarkable trait in the whole genus 

 is, that the males, when adult, are all more or less ash gray in 

 colour, while the females retain their original tints of red or 

 brown. The Marsh Harrier is the largest of our three British 

 species, being about 22 inches in length. Bewick, who places it 

 erroneously among the Buzzards, gives it the provincial name of 

 Harpy, as does Latham ; and Buffon and Temminck designate it 

 la Harpage and Busard Harpaye ; but the definition of Harpie 

 in Boyer's French Dictionary is une femme criarde, 'a noisy 

 clamorous brawler ;' and as the generic name Circus is derived 

 by the B.O.U. Committee from Kp%a>, ' to laugh,' I conclude this 

 species must have enjoyed the reputation, whether deserved or 

 not, of being somewhat vociferous ; and such, I gather from Mr. 

 Seebohm's account of it, it is. 



