Montagu's harrier. 108 



ing most essentially in colour from that part in the Hen Har- 

 rier of either sex, or in any state of change, and which, in the 

 adult male of that species, is invariably white. The under 

 scapulars on one side are similar to those of the adult, ele- 

 gantly barred ferruginous and white ; but on the other side 

 these feathers have not been changed, and are plain ferrugi- 

 nous ; the under parts of the body and thighs are nearly ma- 

 tured, being white, and possessing the bright ferruginous 

 streaks down the shafts of the feathers : the quills and the 

 greater coverts are mostly matured, but a few of the nestling 

 feathers remain, which strongly and most interestingly mark 

 the distinction, particularly two or three of the secondaries, 

 which are destitute of the dusky bars, and are of a uniform 

 chocolate-brown, darker than those on the young Hen Harrier : 

 the tail is much mutilated, but the remains of the old feathers 

 are in appearance barred much like those of the adult ; the 

 outer feathers with bright ferruginous and white, the others 

 with ferruginous bars at the base ; but the third feather is 

 new, on which there are five dark, and five pale bars, alter- 

 nately, ,, etc. etc. 



This Harrier appears to be far less common in England 

 than the preceding : it has been chiefly noticed in Devon- 

 shire and other southern counties, but has also been seen in 

 the north of England. Temminck says it is chiefly found on 

 the Continent in the eastern and southern parts ; in Hungary, 

 Poland, Silesia, and Austria, and is common in Dalmatia 

 and the Illyrian provinces : it is also found occasionally in 

 Italy and Switzerland. It is very common in Holland in the 

 marshy parts, and in spring frequents the downs on the sea- 

 coast. 



The plumage of the adult male, represented in the plate, 

 is ash-grey on all the upper parts, including the entire head 

 and upper half of the breast, the back, scapulars, and wing- 

 coverts, and the middle feathers of the tail : the secondaries 



