41<) 



more or less, on the scapulars &c." Lord Lilford informs me that he found it numerous in 

 Sicily and Corsica ; and, according to Mr. C. Bygrave Wharton, it is common in the plains and 

 swamps on both sides of the latter island. In Malta, Mr. C. A. Wright states (Ibis, 1864, 

 p. 46), it is " tolerably common in the spring and autumn, commencing to appear, in the former 

 season, in March, and in the latter in September. It may then be seen, with the other Harriers, 

 hunting the rocks and fields for quails, lizards, insects, and small birds. Harriers will turn at 

 the sound of a quail-call • and the Maltese sportsmen often use it to draw them within shot." 



In Bohemia, Dr. Anton Fritsch writes (J. f. 0. 1871, p. 181), " this Harrier is very abundant 

 in the well-watered districts of Bohemia, and is breeding especially in the vicinity of Frauenberg, 

 near Pardubic, and on the edges of the pond Kresic, near Kopidlno. In other parts of Bohemia 

 it is not often met with. Mr. Lokaj received one specimen from the Sarka valley." 



. It is common in Austria and Styria, and also, according to Messrs. Danford and Harvie- 

 Brown (Ibis, 1875, p. 296), in Transylvania: they say, it was "rather common in the autumn 

 at Hatzeg, Klausenburg. The only specimen we can be sure of was obtained by us on one of 

 the little marshes near the latter place ; but we may have seen others in the Mezoseg. This 

 species was unusually abundant in the winter of 1868-69, probably in consequence of there 

 being a good supply of field-mice." Mr. Farman found it common in the marshes round the 

 lakes of Drona, in Bulgaria; and in Turkey, Messrs. Elwes and Buckley write (Ibis, 1870, p. 76), 

 it is " extremely numerous in every part of the country where marshy ground is to be found, 

 more so than any other bird of prey. The great variety of plumage in this species is at first very 

 puzzling, some of the very old males having the wings and tail of a bluish cream-colour, and in 

 some cases nearly white ; Mr. Robson has a specimen whose entire plumage is of a deep brown, 

 nearly black." Dr. Kriiper states that it is resident in Greece, as large numbers winter and 

 some remain to breed, nesting late in April or in May. It is, he adds, common in Crete late in 

 April and early in May, and is one of the commonest of the birds of prey in Corfu, Epirus, 

 Acarnania, and Albania. Lord Lilford informs me that he found it literally swarming in parts 

 of Epirus, and he also met with it in Crete and Cyprus. 



In the south of Russia it is said to be found in almost all marshy localities, being, according 

 to Eversmann, especially numerous in the southern portions of the Ural, though less so on 

 the Lower Volga, whereas in the Caucasus it is extremely rare ; Mr. Goebel states that in the 

 Uman district at least one pair is to be found in every large reedy pond. I find but little infor- 

 mation on record respecting its occurrence in Asia Minor, where it is certainly found in suitable 

 localities ; and Canon Tristram says that it is common in Palestine at all seasons of the year on 

 all open ground, and is far more numerous than any of the other Harriers. 



In North-east Africa it is common in winter, being, according to Captain Shelley, by far most 

 abundant in the Delta and the Fayoom. Mr. Blanford met with it in the highlands of Abyssinia ; 

 and Von Heuglin says that it is found along the Nile to the equator. He did not meet with 

 it in the summer ; but Brehm states that it breeds in the delta of the Nile. Von Heuglin at 

 first was inclined to describe a new species of Harrier under the name of Circus umbrinus ; but 

 he subsequently withdrew this name, and says that his Circus umbrinus is merely the young male 

 of the Marsh-Harrier. 



According to Loche this Harrier is common in marshy localities in Algeria. Mr. Salvin 



4i 



