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other Harriers, and is generally to be met with in damp swampy localities, especially in large 

 marshes where waterfowl are abundant, and where, during the breeding-season, it makes great 

 havoc amongst their eggs and young. In most parts of Northern Europe it is a regular or a 

 partial migrant, leaving for the south at the approach of the winter ; but in many portions of 

 Southern Europe it is found throughout the cold season. It avoids the woods even for the 

 purpose of roosting ; for one never finds it there except when passing over from one marsh to 

 another. During the day, when not circling about and quartering the ground in search of food, 

 it will rest on a stone, a post, or even on the ground, and but seldom on a tree ; and during the 

 night it usually rests in the dense reed-beds or amongst the willows by the water. In its flight 

 and general appearance it much resembles the Hen-Harrier. It usually flies low, except during 

 passage, when it may not unfrequently be seen at a considerable altitude ; and its flight is some- 

 what uncertain, soft, and gliding. Except during the breeding-season, it is a silent bird ; but in 

 the spring both sexes may be heard, the male uttering a clear, rather loud call, somewhat 

 resembling the syllable keew, several times repeated, while the female has a call somewhat 

 resembling the word j^e-ep, rather prolonged, but clear and shrill ; as is the case, however, with 

 the call-notes of many birds, it is most difficult to describe its voice by words. The food of 

 the Marsh-Harrier consists of water- and marsh-birds, small mammals, insects, and reptiles ; and 

 being comparatively weak in flight, it is seldom able to secure a bird on the wing, but strikes 

 them when on the water or on the ground. It creates great havoc amongst the young and eggs 

 of the various species of waterfowl which breed in marshy localities, chasing the smaller birds off 

 their nests, and plundering those of the larger species when their owners are absent ; and it will 

 even take the eggs of the larger Ducks and Geese. It will also catch fish when they are in 

 shallow water, devours frogs and large aquatic insects, mice, moles, &c, and will not unfre- 

 quently catch young hares and rabbits. Speaking of its habits, as observed by him in Spain, 

 Colonel Irby writes (Orn. Str. Gibr. p. 34) : — " It is to be seen there in vast numbers, particularly 

 in winter. Great quantities remain to breed, sometimes as many as twenty nests being within 

 three hundred yards of one another. These, loosely constructed with dead sedges, vary much 

 in size and depth, and are usually placed amidst rushes in swamps, but sometimes on the 

 ground among brambles and low brushwood, always near water, though occasionally far from 

 marshes. They begin to lay about the end of March, and at that time fly up to a great height, 

 playing about, and continually uttering their wailing cry. The eggs are bluish white, and 

 usually four or five in number ; they certainly vary in size and shape, and are often much 

 stained. Like the eggs of all the Harriers that I am acquainted with, and many others of the 

 Accipitres, when blown and held up to the light they show a bluish tinge. I once found a nest 

 containing only one egg, nearly ready to hatch, and saw another with six eggs (three quite fresh 

 and the other three hard sat-on). I believe that, if the first set of eggs be taken, they lay again 

 in a fresh nest, as I found sets of fresh eggs as late as the 2nd of May. 



" The Marsh-Harrier is a perfect pest to the sportsman, as, slowly hunting about in front, 

 it puts up every Snipe and Duck that lies in its course, making them unsettled and wild. I 

 have repeatedly seen them flush Little Bustards ; but these merely flew fifty yards to the right or 

 left out of the Harrier's line of flight, and settled down again. 



" Cowardly and ignoble, they are the terror of all the poultry which are in their districts, 



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