MARSH HARRIER. 89 



It A PTO RES. FA LCONIDJE. 



PLATE XVIII. 



MARSH HARRIER. 

 Circus rufus. (Brisson.) 



The Harriers are another division of the Falconidse, which 

 partaking both of the characters of the buzzards and of the 

 owls, is very properly placed between these two tribes. In 

 their want of courage, in their sluggishness, and manner of 

 taking their food, these birds resemble the buzzards ; and 

 they approach the owls in the rough stiffened feathers en- 

 circling the neck, and in their habit of continuing the chase 

 for food until late in the evening. They are, however, more 

 active in their movements than the buzzards, and exert more 

 skill and dexterity in obtaining their food, although in these 

 particulars they fall far short of the true falcons. They can- 

 not seize their food on the wing, but usually take it from the 

 ground, or from the water. They chiefly frequent plains, in 

 the vicinity of lakes or marshes, and in such situations only 

 they are found to breed. In colour their eggs differ entirely 

 from those of all the preceding birds of prey, at least such is 

 the case with the species indigenous to this country : and in 

 the places chosen for nidification, they differ from all the 

 other divisions of the Falconidse. Three species are recog- 

 nised as inhabiting Britain, and are all indigenous. 



The Marsh Harrier appears to be widely dispersed through- 

 out the temperate regions of the globe, being found in all its 

 quarters : but it is not everywhere equally distributed, being 



