424 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVILI, 
I hesitate to include the Hen Harrier as 1 am very doubtful if one can be 
certain ef ft on the wing and the Pallid Harrier isso common. Several observers 
state they saw it in winter, but no specimens are forthcoming. 
It is possible a Harrier of sorts breeds in the Tekrit area as Logan Home re- 
cords one (under cyaneus) as common from April to June at Samarra, and 
remarks that it must be breeding. The status of the various Harriers requires 
further investigation. 
179. Marsh Harrier. Circus zruginosus, 
Circus cruginosus eruginosus (L.) (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, 1, p. 91, 
1758—Sweden). 
The Marsh Harrier is very abundant and resident in the huge marshes of the 
plains, such as the Euphrates marshes near the Hindia Barrage, and the Hamar 
lake and elsewhere. Logan Home noted it also in the Samarra district in April 
to June wherever there was long lank grass. In the marshes, near Basra, where 
it also breeds, it was observed building on March 22nd and Buxton also saw it 
carrying, as nest material, pieces of reed at the Hamar lake on May 25th. Five 
nests were found by Livesay in the Hindia marshes on June 2nd containing two 
eggs (two) ; three eggs, and two with young. 
Nine skins examined :—¢, Amara; 11-2-18, &, 16-12-17, 7-2-18, 17-2-18, 
3, Baghdad, 31-3-18, @, L. Akkarkuf, 12-10-17 (two) (P. A. B.). Amara 
16-1-18 (P. Z.C. and R. E.C.); L. Akkarkuf, 18-8-17 (C. R. P.). 
These agree well with European specimens ; they are not glossy or nearly black 
on the upper parts as in the Algerian form harterti ; the coloration of the crown 
varies, in October it is rusty cream to creamy white, in February dirty white. 
Naumann was inclined to think that one he examined from Ras-el-Ain might be 
harterti as it had a pure white crown and the mantle somewhat darker than in 
European birds ; I can however not see any difference between this series of 
Mesopotamian birds and European ones. 
Two of Buxton’s are adult males with streaked heads and silvery blue on wings 
and tail. A female, he noted, had a double ovary. 
180. Sparrow Hawk. Accipiter nisus. 
1. Accipiter nisus nisus (L). (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, 1, p. 92, 1758— 
Sweden). 
2. Accipiter nisus nisosimilis (Tick.) (J. A.S.B., ii, p. 571, 1833-4— 
Borabhum, India). 
Fairly common winter visitor, recorded throughout the area, it arrives at the 
end of October and most have gone by the end of March. Pitman records it 
from Feluja on April 17th and Sassi at Mosul on the 27th ; Pitman says he saw 
it in the date groves at Museyib in June and July and supposed it was breeding ; 
this record as in the case of the Hobby, needs further confirmation, but it seems 
probable that some small hawk must nest there. Brooking has recorded that 
this species breeds at Ramadi. 
(1) Seven skins examined: Y, Amara, 25-1-18, 1-12-17, 3, 23-11-17 (P. A. 
B.); 9, Abed. 9-2-18 (F .M. B.); 9, Feluja, 17-4-17; (two) ¢, Amara, 4-2-18 
(P. Z. C. and R. E. C.) 
Wings ¢, 201, 201, 9, 227-239 ; I cannot separate any of these on colour, 
and their wings fall within the measurements of the typical race. 
(2) 9, Amara, 3-3-18 (P. A. B.); Q Samarra, 29-1-18. 
These two specimens with wings of 243 and 246 mm. are much larger than any 
of a large series of European birds I have measured and must I think be assigned 
to this widely distributed eastern race. Probably in small numbers a winter 
visitor. 
