Montagu's Harrier 



migrant, arriving towards the middle of April, and in 

 some of the open moorlands and fenny localities in the 

 south and south-east of England a few pairs yearly attempt 

 to breed. 



The sight of this grand bird, as it quarters the ground 

 backwards and forwards in search of food, is an exquisite 

 pleasure to the true naturalist, but in spite of the protection 

 afforded by law, it is ruthlessly destroyed, either by the 

 gamekeeper or the collector of British killed specimens, 

 whenever seen. In habits it closely resembles the Hen 

 Harrier. It nests on the ground, and its bluish white 

 eggs are, as in the case of that species, often speckled 

 with rusty red. 



The upper parts, throat, and breast of the male are slaty 

 grey; the hinder parts white, streaked with rufous on the 

 flanks. Tail feathers greyish with five rusty red bars on all 

 except the middle pair. The female, who is slightly larger 

 than the male, is brown above and buff streaked with rufous 

 below. The young resemble the female but are much 

 darker below. Length about 18 in.; wing 15 "4 in. 



To Scotland and Ireland this bird is only a very rare 

 straggler. 



THE COMMON BUZZARD 



Buteo vulgaris, Leach 



Years ago this species might fairly have been called 

 common in our islands, but the gamekeeper, who hag much 



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