OUR BIRDS OF PREY. 



79 



the young males through the stages that lead to adult dress. 

 The Colonel's account of this may be read in his Dictionary, and 

 is most interesting reading. He tells us how, fearing the birds 

 might die too soon, he " forced a premature change in some of the 

 quill and tail feathers of the others " (that is to say, he pulled 



THK MARSH-HARRIER (CIRCUS /liRUllINOSUS). 



them out), and " thus compelled nature to disclose her secrets 

 before the appointed time" (that is to say, the new feathers came, 

 and they were grey). 



That was really an achievement ; and after this it seems only 

 right that the Colonel's name should be indissolubly associated 



