444 



4 



in Asia Minor, and it does not appear to be common there ; but, referring to its occurrence in 

 Palestine, Canon Tristram writes (Ibis, 1865, p. 260) as follows: — "I think this bird is more 

 common than either of the preceding species \C. ceruginosus, C. cyaneus, and C. cineraceus], as 

 several specimens were shot by different members of our society at different seasons. It is 

 always to be found about the swamps of Esdraelon, and especially by the lagoons at the mouth 

 of the Kishon." 



In North-east Africa it is common and resident. Captain Shelley says (B. of Egypt, p. 183) 

 that it is " resident in Egypt and Nubia throughout the year, where it may often be seen in small 

 parties frequenting the rows of sont trees, which are not uncommon in the neighbourhood of 

 villages, and sometimes in company with Circus cyaneus;" and Von Heuglin writes that it is 

 much more numerous in the autumn and spring than either the Hen-Harrier or Montagu's 

 Harrier, and is met with southwards to Sennaar, Habesch, and Kordofan. In North-west Africa 

 it does not appear to be so numerous as on the east side : Loche states that is tolerably common 

 in Algeria ; and according to Favier it occurs on passage near Tangier. It has been obtained in 

 Senegal and Casamanze ; Pel obtained it between Cape Tres Puntas and Accra, on the Gold 

 Coast ; and Andersson writes (B. of Damara Land, p. 32) : — " This bird is migratory, appearing 

 towards the return of the rainy season in Damara and Great Namaqua Land ; I have observed 

 very few adult specimens ; but young and middle-aged birds are pretty numerous. This Harrier 

 haunts chiefly the sides of marshes, the banks of rivers, and other humid places, in search of 

 lizards, mice, moths, white ants, &c. ; it usually flies low and straight, and only occasionally in 

 circles." To this Mr. Gurney adds the following note: — "This Harrier also occurs in Ovampo 

 Land, a specimen obtained in Ondonga on January 22nd, 1867, having been contained in 

 Mr. Andersson's last collection. In addition to this species, Mr. Andersson states that Circus 

 cyaneus ' occurs very sparingly in Damara Land;' but I suspect that in this remark there has 

 been an error of identification, and that the specimens thus referred to in reality belonged either 

 to the present or to the succeeding species, as I have never seen an example of Circus cyaneus 

 from any locality south of the equator." According to Mr. Layard (B. of S. Afr. p. 34) this 

 Harrier " has a wide range in South Africa. Smith says that he has seen a few specimens near 

 Cape-town, Natal, the mouth of the Orange River, and the Tropic of Capricorn. Mr. Jackson 

 sends it from Nel's Poort ; and I have shot it near the Observatory, Cape-town, in company with 

 Circus ranivorus." Captain Shelley also mentions (Ibis, 1875, p. 65) that he shot an immature 

 example near Ceres, in the Cape colony. 



In Asia the present species occurs at least as far east as China. According to Dr. Severtzoff 

 it breeds in Turkestan, and it is said to be common in Southern Persia. Dr. Jerdon writes (B. of 

 India, i. p. 96), it is " exceedingly abundant throughout all India, coming in at the beginning of 

 the cold season, September to October, and disappearing in March or April for the purpose of 

 breeding. Burgess speaks of his having heard that they sometimes breed in this country, and 

 got some eggs which were said to be those of this species; but I have no doubt that he was 

 misled, and that the eggs were probably those of Elanus melanoj)terus." To this Mr. A. O. 

 Hume adds (Rough Notes, p. 300) as follows, viz. : — " In the plains of India this bird certainly 

 does not breed. We first see them in Upper India early in October (I have twice seen specimens 

 in the last week in September) ; and the great majority leave by the close of March, or early in 



