242 DIURNAL BIRDS OF PRE Y. 



American harrier-hawks, and the cosmopolitan harriers ; botli of wliich are dis- 

 tinguished from all the foregoing types by having an imperfect disc of feathers 

 round the eyes, — tlms recalling the owls, — and also by the hinder aspect of the 

 metatarsus being covered with reticulate scales, instead of large scutes. With 

 regard to the harrier - hawks (Micrastur), of which there are several species, 

 ranging from Southern Mexico over the greater part of South America, it will 

 sujSice to state that they are distinguished by having circular nostrils with a 

 bony excrescence, and form an intermediate step between the goshawks and the 

 harriers, having the heavy build of the former, and the facial discs of the latter. 



The harriers, of which there are some sixteen sj^ecies, are long- 

 winged and slender-built birds, remarkable for the great diversity 

 existing in most cases between the plumage of the two sexes, and deriving their 

 name from their harrying j^i'opensities. The nostrils differ from those of the 

 harrier-hawks in being oval, and devoid of any bony excrescence ; they are partly 

 concealed by the radiating feathers of the lores. The beak is small, curving 

 regularly from the base, and with only a slight festoon in its upper cutting-edge. 

 The long wings have the first quill very short, and the third and fourth the longest ; 

 and the tail is of considerable length, and rounded. In length the metatarsus is 

 relatively greater than in any other members of the family ; the toes are somewhat 

 short, and not very unequal in length ; and the claws are very sharp, and but 

 slightly curved. Harriers are distributed over the greater part of the globe, 

 occurring in such widely distant countries as New Zealand and Britain, although 

 they are absent from several regions, such as Malayana, Persia, and Arabia, where 

 they might reasonably have been expected to occur. Of the numerous species of 

 the genus, no less than three inhabit the British Islands ; although the drainage of 

 the fen-lands has sadly reduced their numbers, more especially in the case of the 

 marsh-harrier. In habits all the harriers are very similar, although some, like the 

 species last named, prefer low marshy spots, where they may be seen with their 

 heavy flapping wings slowly skimming over the reeds ; while others, like the 

 hen-harrier, also frequent the drier hillsides. They all roost on or near the 

 ground ; and, when not hunting, may be seen, as in our illustration, perched on 

 some low bough, post, or hillock. They hunt their prey to a great extent in the 

 mornings and evenings, and feed on small birds, mammals, and reptiles ; the marsh- 

 haunting species supplementing this diet largely with frogs and fish, while others 

 eat grasshoppers and other large insects. The nest is usually placed on the 

 ground ; and in the European species at least the eggs (three or four in number) 

 are nearly uniform pale bluish or yellowish green. In addition to their facial discs 

 and crepuscular habits, the harriers show another resemblance to the owls in their 

 habit of laying their eggs at intervals, so that both eggs and nestlings may be 

 taken from the same nest. In hunting, harriers frequently beat and quarter their 

 ground almost with the regularity of a spaniel. Our remarks on the various 

 species will be mainly confined to those inhabiting the British Islands. So 

 different in appearance are the males and females of the hen-harrier (Circus 

 cyaneus) that they were long regarded as distinct, — the female being termed 

 the ringtail, — and it was not till Montagu brought up a brood from the nest 

 that their specific unity was established. In the adult male the general colour 



